Crews Press Search for Boater Lost on Friday

Sheriff’s search and rescue teams continued to scour a choppy patch of the Pacific Ocean on Sunday in hopes of finding the last missing person from a boat that capsized days before.

Heavy fog and 10-foot-high waves overwhelmed the skiff carrying four members of the Schneider family of Camarillo about 12:30 p.m. Friday.

They were stranded about 100 yards off Ventura, authorities said.

Steve Schneider, the 45-year-old father; one of his sons; and a daughter managed to make it to shore.

They were taken to Ventura County Medical Center with minor injuries.

After three days of searching, William Schneider, 18, is still missing.

Helicopters, boats and all-terrain vehicles circled the area until dark Sunday without success, authorities said.

Officials were still holding on to a shred of hope that William Schneider was alive, continuing to call their effort a search operation Sunday evening.

“As time goes on, it becomes more desperate and difficult to have any hope,” said Capt. Mike Aranda of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Aranda said William Schneider could still be alive if he made it to shore and could be so disoriented that he hasn’t been able to make contact with his family or authorities.

“We’ll be out there tomorrow with a full contingent of people searching,” Aranda said.