Eight Bells: Bob Kieding

Prominent boating supporter Robert B. Kieding, 88, passed away February 16, 2026 in Santa Barbara, CA.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bob began sailing an 8’ single-handed pram at the age of eight, and never looked back. As a teen, he worked as a paid hand on various yachts out of Santa Barbara, and by 18 he had earned his first professional command as skipper, managing a yacht crew on weekends and summers.

Upon completing college at University of California Santa Barbara, where he met his beloved wife Joanie, he held several conventional on-land jobs but kept returning to his first love: the sea.

Bob and Joanie and their three children – Ken, Linda, and Susan – enjoyed many sailing adventures at the Channel Islands, often anchoring in Pelican Bay. Affectionately known as “Rapid Robert,” the kids remember Bob racing to the islands, racing to set anchor, and racing back, all while calling out orders to various family members.

Besides family trips, Bob’s boating career included racing many one-design offshore yachts both nationally and internationally. He sailed with a number of celebrities over the years, including Humphrey Bogart, David Niven, Earl Warren, and Dana Andrews.

In 1977, Bob purchased Santa Barbara’s primary ship’s chandlery – at the time called “Coast Chandlery” – and then went on to open several other retail businesses in the Santa Barbara waterfront area. Chandlery Yacht Sales is still operating today as one of Santa Barbara’s oldest businesses, having been in operation since 1946.

Boating is deeply etched into the Kieding family history and continues to be an integral part of their family to this day, thanks to Bob’s love of the sport, the yacht club, and the waterfront community.

Bob held many volunteer positions throughout the years including President of the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation, Chairman of the Junior Rowing Program for the 1984 Olympics, Trustee of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, President of the Santa Barbara Semana Nautica Sports Festival, and founder of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

As Santa Barbara Yacht Club’s Life Member #1, Bob was a lifelong mariner, a lover of history and preserver of maritime artifacts, a business owner, a generous community volunteer, a fierce advocate for youth and women sailors, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Memorial service will be private. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the following, both of which Bob held near and dear to his heart:

• Santa Barbara Maritime Museum youth programs, sbmm.org/donate/
• Sea Shell Association, www.sbssa.org

March 28, 1937 – February 16, 2026