Fishing for a new master

June Casagrande

Newport Harbor is looking for a master and commander.

Since Harbor Master Stan Jacquot retired about two weeks ago,

locals have been looking forward to an announcement from the office

of Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona that a new harbor master has

been named. They’re hopeful that news could come as soon as this

week.

“I expect a new one should be appointed soon,” said Lt. Greg

Russell of the Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol station in Newport Beach.

Capt. Jacquot retired about two weeks ago after only about a year

on the job. He had replaced Marty Kasules, who retired in January

2003 after serving with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for

more than 25 years.

Hopefully, the next person to take the helm to manage Orange

County’s harbors will be able to stay a while, boaters say.

The harbor master oversees the daily operations of the Sheriff’s

Harbor Patrol Division, which serves as police force, fire department

and rescue service in Orange County’s three harbors: Newport Harbor,

Sunset/Huntington Harbour and Dana Point Harbor.

The Harbor Patrol also oversees 42 miles of coastline in Orange

County.

Its two patrol boats in Newport do everything from respond to

hazardous material spills to provide boating and water-safety courses

to the public.