A fair farewell to the harbormaster

Ahoy.

All the dignitaries showed up in style last week at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for the farewell of Marty Kasules, who retired

as the Harbormaster of Orange County’s three harbors.

I call it a farewell because Marty is planning to cast off and

cruise aboard his Uniflite 42-foot aft cabin motor vessel “Slip Away”

after serving with the Orange County Sheriff’s department for more

than 25 years. He is leaving at the rank of captain after being

assigned various duties such as a harbor patrol deputy, county

sheriff’s department academy training sergeant and SWAT team member

before returning to the harbor as the Harbormaster.

Marty made signification contributions to the harbors and boaters

when he took command. Being an active boater helped guide his

management style. Under his leadership, the harbor patrol personnel

are basically hand-selected to serve the community, and the

department is now recognized across the nation.

The patrol is known, as I have mentioned in previous columns, for

its boat fire fighting and training other departments. It shows

because all of the half a dozen boat fires a year have been contained

quickly. A major lifesaving contribution is equipping the fireboats

with automatic defibrillators since advanced medical help maybe a

distance away. The harbor patrol is the first response on not only

the harbor’s waterways but also covering the ocean area off all of

Orange County’s coastline extending up to three miles plus out to

sea.

Probably the most significant undertaking and his legacy is the

construction of the new Newport Harbor Rescue Operations Center

complete with state-of-the-art dispatch center equipped with advanced

computer navigational charting software that has already saved lives.

My wife and I attended the evening. It is always nice to see those

you know from around the state. Coming the farthest was the state’s

Boating and Waterways director, Ray Tsuneyoshi. Ray drove down from

Sacramento to present Marty with a state plaque. Assistant

Harbormaster Lt. Greg Russell did a great job as the master of

ceremonies and had prepared a slide show to entertain the crowd.

Tim Riley, Newport Beach’s fire chief, presented Marty a

dual-purpose city plaque that Tim noted could be used as a cheese

platter when not hanging on the wall aboard Marty’s boat.

The most useful gift I saw presented was a lifetime pass on the

Catalina Flyer presented by Sandbar of the Catalina Flyer.

The Newport Beach-based U.S. Coast Guard cutter Narwhal stationed

at the Newport Harbor Department gave a memento of thanks.

Orange County’s Sheriff Mike Carona concluded the ceremony when he

personally presented Marty with his retirement badge. There were many

in attendance, including, to name a few, was Avalon Harbormaster

Brian Bray, retired Orange County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Vito

Ferlauto, Randy and Linda Goodman with Electra Cruises, harbor

deputies and some of Marty’s family and friends.

Afterward, Marty said to me, “I will miss all the wonderful people

who I have come to know and the opportunity to serve as harbormaster

to the boating and surrounding communities. However, now I have the

window of opportunity to retire and travel the adventure of a

lifetime.”

Marty’s plans are to prepare his yacht for cruising with a few

shakedown voyages to the Channel Islands before setting a southerly

direction on the autopilot. Marty will not just disappear, as you

will be able to follow his adventures on my Web site

(www.BoathouseTV.com) when I set up a “Where’s Slip Away” link soon

complete with e-mail. Bon voyage, Marty, and Rupert will miss you.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Get to know the local harbor patrol and Coast Guard personnel in

your harbor. By knowing each other on a first-name basis, we all can

work together for safe and pleasurable boating, since we all share

the same passion of being on the water. We are experiencing a sinful

winter as those in the Midwest or back East chip ice in their

harbors, so get out and enjoy the marine environment. Remember to

file a float plan or let someone know your trip plans for the day and

when you expect to be back at the docks.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist.

Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story

suggestions by e-mail to [email protected] or visit

BoathouseTV.com.