Tall Ships Erie 2022: Explore the tall ships coming to this year's festival

A.J. Rao, Erie Times-News
·4 min read
Visitors walk between tall ships docked around Dobbins Landing on Presque Isle Bay in 2019. Tall Ships Erie will return Aug. 25-28, 2022
Visitors walk between tall ships docked around Dobbins Landing on Presque Isle Bay in 2019. Tall Ships Erie will return Aug. 25-28, 2022

Seven majestic tall ships, led by Erie's own U.S. Brig Niagara, will participate in Tall Ships Erie 2022.

The ships, which will include local favorites like the Lettie G. Howard, as well as international vessels like the Nao Trinidad from Spain, will make their way into Presque Isle during the festival's Parade of Sail on Aug 25 at 4 p.m.

"Any place on Presque Isle Bay where you can see the bay is a good place to watch the Parade of Sail," said William Sabatini, executive director and fleet captain of the Flagship Niagara League.

Tall Ships Erie 2022: What you need to know about the festival along the lake

The Tall Ships Erie Parade of Sail: Where are the best spots to watch?

The festival grounds will be open Aug. 26-28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the foot of State Street, at the Erie Maritime Museum and Bayfront Convention Center.

The Lettie G. Howard and Appledore IV will be available for day sails while the others will be open for deck tours only. A large rubber Mama and Baby Duck — the "World's Largest Rubber Duck" — will also be on display in the harbor area located directly behind the Erie Maritime Museum.

Mama and Baby duck:World's Largest Rubber Duck returning to Tall Ships Erie for 2022 festival

Here's a rundown on each vessel and where you can find them during the festival, according to the Tall Ships Erie website and Sabatini.

U.S. Brig Niagara

The U.S. Brig Niagara fires its cannon during the Tall Ships Erie festival's Parade of Sail on Aug. 22, 2019.
The U.S. Brig Niagara fires its cannon during the Tall Ships Erie festival's Parade of Sail on Aug. 22, 2019.

The U.S. Brig Niagara is a reproduction of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's victorious vessel from the War of 1812's Battle of Lake Erie. The vessel will be docked at Dobbins Landing at the foot of State Street during the festival.

Come aboard:Want to tour the U.S. Brig Niagara at Tall Ships Erie? Here's what you'd see

Lettie G. Howard

The Lettie G. Howard sails in Presque Isle Bay during the Parade of Sail, which opened the 2019 Tall Ships Erie festival on Aug. 22, 2019 in Erie.
The Lettie G. Howard sails in Presque Isle Bay during the Parade of Sail, which opened the 2019 Tall Ships Erie festival on Aug. 22, 2019 in Erie.

The Lettie G. Howard is believed to be the last surviving example of a Fredonia fishing schooner, a type of vessel once commonly used in the North Atlantic. The vessel will be docked at Dobbins Landing at the foot of State Street during the festival.

  • Flag: U.S.

  • Homeport: New York City, New York; loaned to Erie

  • Built: 1893

  • Sparred length: 125 feet

  • Website: bit.ly/lettie_info

Empire Sandy

The Empire Sandy sails into Presque Isle Bay during the Parade of Sail, which opened the 2019 Tall Ships Erie festival on Aug. 22, 2019 in Erie.
The Empire Sandy sails into Presque Isle Bay during the Parade of Sail, which opened the 2019 Tall Ships Erie festival on Aug. 22, 2019 in Erie.

As Canada's largest schooner, the Empire Sandy is certified to carry up to 275 passengers and can seat 166 passengers at one time for dining purposes. The vessel will be docked at the Bayfront Convention Center during the festival.

  • Flag: Canada

  • Homeport: Toronto, Canada

  • Built: 1943

  • Sparred length: 203 feet

  • Website: empiresandy.com

Appledore IV

The schooner was originally commissioned by Herb and Doris Smith and built by Mark Treworgy. The name "Appledore" was chosen by Herb as a tribute to his wife who he first saw while sailing a small boat off Appledore Island. The vessel will be docked at Dobbins Landing at the foot of State Street during the festival.

  • Flag: U.S.

  • Homeport: Bay City, Michigan

  • Built: 1989

  • Sparred length: 85 feet

  • Website: baysailbaycity.org.

St. Lawrence II

Since the ship was designed with a level of complexity that requires a high degree of teamwork, the ship is part of a sail training program led by Brigantine Inc., and is designed to broaden the horizons of youth. The vessel will be docked at the Bayfront Convention Center during the festival.

Nao Trinidad

Large crowds wait to tour the tall ship Santa Maria, docked Aug. 23, 2019, at Dobbins Landing on Presque Isle Bay in Erie. The ship has been renamed the Nao Trinidad, a replica of a 15th-century square sail ship, built to celebrate the Spanish city of Huelva's 525th anniversary. It is expected to take part in the 2022 Tall Ships Erie festival.
Large crowds wait to tour the tall ship Santa Maria, docked Aug. 23, 2019, at Dobbins Landing on Presque Isle Bay in Erie. The ship has been renamed the Nao Trinidad, a replica of a 15th-century square sail ship, built to celebrate the Spanish city of Huelva's 525th anniversary. It is expected to take part in the 2022 Tall Ships Erie festival.

The Trinidad is a replica of a 15th-century square sail ship, built to celebrate the Spanish city of Huelva’s 525th anniversary. The vessel will be docked at the Bayfront Convention Center during the festival.

Pride of Baltimore II

Built in response to the need for fast ships that could elude British naval vessels, the success of these clippers inspired the Royal Navy’s attack on Baltimore in 1814, where Francis Scott Key found inspiration to write the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The vessel will be docked at the Bayfront Convention Center during the festival.

  • Flag: U.S.

  • Homeport: Baltimore, Maryland

  • Built: 1987-88

  • Sparred length: 157 feet

  • Website: pride2.org.

A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNRao

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Tall Ships Erie 2022: Explore the tall ships in this year's festival