Over 30 boats with over 100 King Harbor Yacht Club members circled the 62-foot trawler ‘Saumlaki’ on Saturday during a Memorial at Sea for Dick Reinhardt, the yacht club’s first commodore. Reinhardt passed away July 29, at age 94, after six decades of service to the boating community.
After helping to form KHYC in 1960, Reinhardt was instrumental in its mergers with the Redondo and the Win’ard yacht clubs. He served as KHYC’s treasurer for 20 years and was the recipient of just about every honor given to Southern California sailors.
In 1976, the Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) awarded him the title of Honorary Commodore. In 1988, he received the Ewert Memorial Trophy for distinguished service to SCYA. Also in 1988, he was named Yachtsman of the Year by the Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs.
In 2006, he and his wife Jeanne received the SCYA Fisher Memorial Trophy, awarded to couples who have rendered distinguished service to the SCYA.
Reinhardt was in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for 28 years, serving as District Director of Navigation Services and twice as Flotilla Commander.
He taught power, sail, and navigation classes through their public education program. And he was an expert in marlinspike and other knots.
Reinhardt is survived by his wife Jeanne, of 71 years, and their daughter Tricia.
A remembrance video may be viewed at youtu.be/aH1pqin91pY. ER
