US Brig Niagara

[cmoneu]

Have to throw a shout out there for the Niagara, I'm a member of the Ship's Company (reenactors) and have been lucky enough to sail her out on Lake Erie a couple of times.  She's 99% rebuilt from the original Niagara which was scuttled in Misery Bay off the shores of Lake Erie after the War of 1812.  There are still some original boards in the Niagara mostly located in the officer's quarters.  She's 110ft long and was outfitted with 18 - 32 pounders and 2 - 12 pound long guns.  Now she only has 4 32 cannonades on board because of regulations for a sailing school vessel.  She's credited for showing up in the nick of time at the Battle of Lake Erie on September 10th 1813 and, through suburb maneuvering, managed to turn the tide of the battle to favor the Americans.  The British squadron surrendered, 2 ships, 1 brig, 2 schooners and 1 sloop to Oliver Hazard Perry.  

  :Smile_honoring:

[Mermaid_Witch]

Yeah, I saw her back during the 1812 celebration in Detroit.  Pretty nice looking ship.

 

By the way, how does it feel having everyone call the Niagara a pirate ship?

[cmoneu]

:Smile_izmena:  something like that...

[thegreenbaron]

Yeah, I was there in '88 when they relaunched her.  Last time I was in Erie was the Strong Vincent statue unveiling.  The guy in the ships company that was giving the tour at the time worried me: he had no idea what to do if, god help her, she's caught in bad weather on Erie (which can happen pretty much at any time, and about five min warning.)  When I asked if she shudders when her stern rises on a wave (since they added engines) he just stared at me horrified.

[cmoneu]

For the Mariner's Ball this year the Navy Band came and performed the day before at the convention center and of course there was quite the storm outside.  After the concert you could go to the windows and see the Niagara bobbing around on the waves firing off her cannons, I think it's safe to say they've gotten use to the bad weather.

[thegreenbaron]

cmoneu, on 11 November 2012 - 05:48 AM, said:

For the Mariner's Ball this year the Navy Band came and performed the day before at the convention center and of course there was quite the storm outside.  After the concert you could go to the windows and see the Niagara bobbing around on the waves firing off her cannons, I think it's safe to say they've gotten use to the bad weather.

If you can fire cannon on deck, that's not a storm yet on Erie.  When Erie threw us up on the shore at Presque isle, the waves were around 14'.

[cmoneu]

True, guess that's why they were still out there in that "drizzle" lol

[thegreenbaron]

cmoneu, on 11 November 2012 - 10:04 PM, said:

True, guess that's why they were still out there in that "drizzle" lol

LOL on the Lakes, storms are big.  The Witch of November is a hurricane force storm, usually combined with a blizzard on top everything else.  And on the lakes you're not as buoyant as at sea.  You tend to go through the waves rather than over them.

[Tedster_]

Small world. I had several people from my High school sail on her :) .  Somebody comes every year to the school to do a presentation.

[cmoneu]

They have quite the sailing program for both high school and college students.  They always seem to have a good time doing it too, who wouldn't right?

[Neurotoxin]

Wouldn't mind joining myself, when I can even remotely afford it.

[cmoneu]

That's why I joined as a reenactor, granted I don't get to sail her as often or get to climb the rigging, but I still get out a couple times in the summer.  You could just become a volunteer and work towards some sailing time as well.