Nautical Museum leader leaving

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- After 2 1/2 years at the Newport Harbor Nautical

Museum, executive director Wayne Eggleston has stepped down.

Eggleston, who is vice mayor of San Clemente, left the museum to

pursue opportunities in his previous career in property management.

“I wanted to get back to my original career,” Eggleston said. “I’m

looking at different opportunities.”

The museum’s board of directors is currently conducting a recruitment

effort to replace Eggleston. They will be big shoes to fill.

In his tenure at the museum, Eggleston laid the groundwork for the

museum to reach great heights.

“Obviously, the museum has tremendous potential,” he said, noting that

strategic planning for the museum’s future and potential expansion will

soon begin.

Eggleston, who started the Casa Romantica Museum in San Clemente,

helped oversee a number of successful events. Recently, Eggleston was

part of the museum’s biggest-ever opening day for “Hot Yachts: Ocean

Racers From Topsails to Turbos,” paintings by Gary Miltmore that include

many local boats. Tall ships the Hawaiian Chieftan and Lady Elizabeth

also enjoyed Eggleston’s hospitality when they docked at the museum in

January.

“I like to think I brought some stability and administrative expertise

the museum had not had before,” Eggleston said. “What I’ll miss most is

the people. They have a great deal of knowledge and dedication in their

staff. I’ll miss working with them.”