Officials reveal name of boat after wooden debris washed ashore in Pacifica

PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- US Coast Guard investigators now have a name to go with debris of a wooden boat that washed ashore in Pacifica on Wednesday, but not much more.

For awhile, their investigation may have felt more like a game of Wheel of Fortune, Debris contained the letter fragments, "rio" and barca". After scanning a database, the US Coast Guard identified the craft as Barca del Rio.

In Spanish, that translates to, boat from the river. In reality, they have no idea how that vessel's debris arrived on the beach in pieces that included clothing, life jackets, and assorted wooden pieces. "It remains a mystery," Lt. JG Emily Rowan said. "An unusual case."

Rowan confirmed that the US Coast Guard has been in touch with a previous owner, but would not confirm whether they have found the present ones. Nor would the US Coast Guard say if the boat is registered.

The US Coast Guard says it received no distress calls. Nor has it learned of any missing persons connected with the boat.

Those pieces remain on the beach near Pacifica Pier and the US Coast Guard's investigation continues.