National Harbormaster Appreciation Day | Thank your harbormaster!

Celebrate Your Harbormaster on 10/8/2024.
IDEAS FOR HOW TO CELEBRATE

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Coastal communities around the country celebrate their Harbormasters on Thursday, Oct. 8th!

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Harbormasters are the stewards of our harbors – the center of our coastal communities. They manage the overall ecosystem, including moorings and docks, harbor uses and harbor users, and interactions between local, state and federal government. Of all of our public stewards (police, EMT, fire etc.) these men and women receive the least recognition.

Harbormaster Appreciation Day* -- a day to honor our U.S. Harbormasters and the great work they do -- occurs annually on October 8th.

* National Harbormaster Appreciation Day is registered with the National Day Archive.

WHAT DO HARBORMASTERS DO?

MEET OUR HARBORMASTERS

Eric Donch -- Harbormaster, Stonington, CT

Eric Donch – Stonington, CT

See Weather Forecasts, Marine Weather, Radar, and Harbor Information for Stonington, CT Submitted by Melanie Degler

Abby Leonard – Rockport, ME

Abbie has the world’s best attitude, works her stern off, has vision and makes what Charles Kurault once called “America’s most perfect small harbor” even more perfect. One example: she […]

Steve Hope, harbormaster in New Harbor, ME

Steve Hope – New Harbor, ME

“Steve Hope has been serving our community for years, and I personally think his experience and knowledge of the area and being on the water, combined with the history and […]

Matthew Creswell -- Harbormaster in Juneau, Alaska

Matthew Creswell – Juneau, AK

Matt Creswell has served as the Juneau, Alaska Harbormaster since March of 2020. Matt’s primary responsibilities include: Managing the operation of four small boat harbors (1250 slips), seven launch ramp […]

Layla Jandt-Pedersen – Seldovia, AK

I am the Harbor Master in Seldovia Alaska located on the south side of Kachemak Bay I have been the Harbor Master here for 10 years now. See Weather Forecasts, Marine […]

Aerial view of Norwalk Harbor in Connecticut. Submitted by B. Lavallo

Bruce Lovallo – Norwalk, CT

I started as Norwalk’s Deputy Harbormaster 2018, and was appointed Harbormaster in 2021. My responsibilities include overseeing moorings and various projects impacting the harbor. I retired after 24yr career in […]

Oliver Curry – Southwest Harbor, ME

I started as Southwest Harbor Harbormaster on August 9th 2021. As a lifelong mariner, I’ve worked in most of the harbors around MDI as a deckhand, aquaculture crew, commercial fisherman, […]

Lauren Yoder – Saint Ignace, MI

My name is Lauren Yoder, a young and accomplished Harbormaster at the St. Ignace Municipal Marina. I broke records as a first-year Harbormaster in 2019, including recognition from the DNR […]

Harbor of Escanaba, MI. Submitted by S. Sanville.

Shayne Sanville – Escanaba, MI

I have been the Harbor Master at the beautiful Escanaba Marina tucked away in Little Bay De Noc for four years now. Before becoming Harbor Master I managed the family […]

Steve Melo - Harbormaster in Dartmouth, MA

Steve Melo – Padanaram, MA

I’ve served as the Padanaram / Dartmouth Harbormaster since 2004, and also as the Town’s Shellfish Officer since 2012. Prior to this calling, I was a seasonal Assistant Harbormaster for […]

Tom Bell – Darien, CT

I am the volunteer Harbormaster for the 7 harbors in our town. I’ve been the Harbormaster for 9 years. One of the best parts of my job is helping people […]

Paul Blank – Newport Harbor, CA

I have been part of the Newport Harbor community since I completed City of Newport Beach Recreation Department sailing lessons as a child. That early introduction to sailing has led […]