For Greg Bailey, it's a full circle moment.

"It is kind of what I've been working towards my entire life," said Bailey. "I never thought it would actually happen."

The Erie native and former volunteer deckhand on the U.S. Brig Niagara has been appointed to serve as the new captain of the ship.

"It's these kinds of ships in general that change lives," said Bailey. "I'm a prime example."
Captain Bailey will oversee a two-part restoration of the U.S. Brig Niagara.

According to Captain Bailey, phase one will most likely happen in Cleveland, while phase two will happen at another east coast shipyard.

"There is a lot of structural work that needs to be done," said Captain Bailey. "We need to renew the ship. She was built in 1988, so she is a wooden ship at a certain age and there is work that needs to be done."

A process, that could take up to two years.

"Priority number one is this capital project," said Captain Bailey. "When the ship is finished, we're planning to at the very, very latest, be screaming through the channel on July 4, 2026, with every flag flying and every sail set to be the center piece on the Great Lakes for
the U.S. Semiquincentennial.

Erie News Now asked Captain Bailey if the U.S. Brig Niagara will be ready for Tall Ships Erie Fest, which is scheduled for next summer.

"No, not realistically," said Captain Bailey. "She needs the amount of work that is going to take a significant amount of time and being back for August of next year, it would be very ambitious."