Reader Report: Staff Commodore Jim Emmi gave to BCYC, charities

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club members’ hearts are deeply saddened by the passing of Staff Commodore Jim Emmi, who died peacefully by natural causes at his home in Corona del Mar on May 14. He was 99.

His wife, Catherine, son-in-law, Cameron, and close friends were by his side.

Emmi joined BCYC in 1970, becoming commodore in 1977. Commodore Emmi purchased Pele, his 43-foot Swan sailboat, in Finland in 1978, and with a revolving crew from BCYC sailed in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal and eventually back to Newport Beach.

Between Pele and his previous Islander 37, Emmi has participated in well over 100 ocean races, including the 1982 Transpac to Hawaii. Alongside skipper Emmi were six BCYC crew, including Joe and Grace Degenhardt.

His latest race was BCYC’s 125-mile Around the Island Race. He was 94 at the time.

In 2007, he was awarded the Commodore of the Year. BCYC’s race committee boat is named EMMI, due to his generous contribution to the Bahia Sail Racing Assn.

The Emmis’ extensive philanthropic involvement has included education, healthcare, the arts and science.

A partial list of organizations include UC Berkeley College of Engineering, Caltech, Oregon Tech, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Purdue University, MIND Research Institute, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Hoag Hospital, Opera Pacific, American Symphony Orchestra League, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Girls Inc., Newport Beach Performing Arts Theatre Foundation, Newport Beach Public Library and the Orange County Museum of Art.

Jim would have turned 100 on June 23.