After major work this weekend, one of Erie’s tall ships is close to being ready to setting sail.

The Lettie has a new mast. It took the Flagship Niagara League (FNL) a lot to get it here but once she’s back on the water and sailing, the work will have paid off.

A 65-foot ship mast made a journey from Boothbay, MN to Erie’s bayfront this weekend, as those working on the Lettie G. Howard finally had one of the last pieces of the puzzle in place before it sails once more.

The FNL acquired a mast which was initially built for another ship, but never installed so after 11 years of sitting, it made it’s way to Erie to be placed on the Lettie.

The FNL’s executive director says it was an intricate process and adds it’s one of the more impressive jobs the league and their shipwright have done.

“It’s one of the things that we’ve always been able to do is all of our work in-house. We have the expertise on staff to do these incredibly difficult and incredibly skill-oriented tasks. We’re really happy to do that, and we’re doing it right here at the Bayfront Maritime Center so people can come in and see the process the entire time while we’re doing it,” said William Sabatini, executive director, FNL.

The 65-foot mast was brought out of the building, down the sidewalk, and finally lifted by a crane before being tied and rigged up by volunteers and crew. Finally, her sails will be put on, and she’ll be ready.

“Tomorrow we’re hoping by the end of the day it’ll be our shake-down sail to see how it all works and it’ll be the first time in almost two years that the Lettie’s foresail will be set,” said Sabatini.

The Lettie was able to be sailed with one mast, but Sabatini said she’s able to do much more with two, such as comfortably setting sail once more in the open waters of Lake Erie.

Sabatini said he’s grateful for everyone involved for helping to get this far and they’re looking forward to bringing some consistency to Erie’s bayfront.”

“We’re just excited to do what we do. The whole thing that we’ve been talking about these past few months or so is that we’re the same people you know doing the things you love. We’re out here providing opportunities for people to go sailing on a tall ship, and that’s what the Flagship Niagara League has been about for 40 years,” said Sabatini.

Sabatini said he’s looking forward to training programs, college history programs with Mercyhurst, and finally opening to public day sails soon after a brief trip to the shipyard.