Sailing before the wind in the moonlight. Niagara is underway for several days at a time when making passages to other ports. The ship carries a Large rigfor her size and is very fast in Light air. Royals and flying jib are first in when a breeze picks up. evening reception. All hands are expected other eager green hands, in a centuriesto learn enough of the ship's history to be old tradition. More than in the memories able to answer the basic questions. The ship of adventure, the real value is in the lesis freighted with history and all hands have sons learned that will serve them well in a share in its delivery. This aspect of serving any future endeavor. the ship is very important because rr----r----ir-r----inlT"Tl"T""r:'.'"1~ the port event income enables us to set a much lower tuition than would be the case otherwise. So picture a young crewmember high aloft, or confidently standing on deck awaiting the last orders of a passage. A few weeks ago, the commands, now instantly jumped to and the tasks so routinely accomplished, were not even remotely understood. All too soon, Niagara will once again be welcomed back to her homeport of Erie. Much of this crew will disperse, to be rep laced by
"Spanker Outhaul Haul-away!" The first reefhas been taken in the Loose-footed spanker, and the sail is being re-set on a wet day. This is the most complicated sail on the ship, set up for both hoisting gaffand brailing into the snow mast.
SEA HISTORY 126, SPRING 2009
US Brig Niagara is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and administered and operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, with the assistance of the Flagship Niagara League, a private non-profit. For more information reference www. brigniagara.org. ,!,
Captain Walter Rybka is the Site Administrator of the Erie Maritime Museum and the Senior Captain of US Brig Niagara. He has 36 years experience in every facet of restoring, maintaining, and operating traditional sailing ships, and he developed the Niagara's sail training curriculum. He serves as an active member on Sea History's editorial advisory board and is an expert in the field ofhistoric ship preservation. In 2008, the American Sail Training Association honored him with the ASTA Lifetime Achievement Award. US Brig Niagara and the Erie Maritime Museum, 150 East Front Street, Erie, PA 16507; Ph. 814 452BR!G (2744). 27