The 2022 Tall Ships Festival is just under two days away, and the Tall Ships are making their way to Presque Isle Bay. 

Abroad the U.S. Brig Niagara, one of the eight vessels coming to the bayfront, is Erie News Now Meteorologist Sara Tonks and Reporter Tom Kowalski.

                       

Sara and Tom will be abroad the Niagara from Monday, August 22nd until the festival kicks off with the Parade of Sails on Thursday, August 25th. 

Fleet Captain & Flagship Niagara League Executive Director Billy Sabatini, will be putting our team to work to make sure they earn their keep while aboard. 

So far both Tom and Sara have climbed the over 60 ft. rigging, without falling, to assist the crew in releasing the sails, so they can leave Put-in-Bay, Ohio. 

                         

However, the pirates life doesn't seem to be all it's cracked up to be. The Erie News Now team is quite tall, and have to be hunched over while in the lower decks where they sleep. 

Because there's only 4 ft. of clearance below deck, minor head injuries have been reported from our team, but that didn't stop them from having a successful first night aboard the Niagara. 

                                                         

Before setting sail this morning, our team was treated to a delicious bacon based breakfast made in an oven from the 1800s. 

There also cleaning to be done, but it seems our team sat this one out, with Sara getting her tan on and Tom stowed away in the rigging. 

                                                         

For now, Captain Billy and the Erie News Now team have a lot of water to cover before making it back home to Erie. 

So, stay tuned on the Erie News Now Facebook for more updates on their journey, or tune in live for exclusive coverage only on Erie News Now.