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FBI, Crews To Resume Operation Wednesday To Raise Sunken Boat Off Oyster Bay

OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police and FBI divers working to lift a 34-foot yacht out of the water near Oyster Bay have wrapped up Tuesday's operation, saying the water is too murky and there is limited visibility, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.

Crews will resume the search at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in hopes of discovering what caused the vessel to capsize on the Fourth of July, killing three children.

Forensic teams have spent nearly a week examining the sunken Candi 1, which is now sitting 60 feet under water.

FBI dive teams were hoping to lift the boat using air bladders to the Silverton vessel and inflate them in an effort to bring the boat slowly to the surface where any remaining water will be pumped out.

However, crews were still rigging the boat because the stern of the boat is dug into the mud and crews are having a hard time getting the straps underneath, Papa reported.

Once ashore, police will check for mechanical flaws and count the number of life vests on board.

WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reports

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"We will be looking further into the recommended number of people who should be on this boat versus the number of people who were on this boat along with a myriad of other issues that go along with this incident," said Nassau County Police Chief Steve Skrynecki.

They're still trying to determine if the boat that was filled with 17 adults and 10 children was technically overcrowded when it capsized. Investigators are also looking at strong wake and weather as other possible factors.

As police continue to search for answers, family and friends are grieving the loss of the three children who were killed, 8-year-old Victoria Gaines and 11-year-old Harlie Treanor and 12-year-old David Aureliano.

The three were trapped inside the boat's cabin when it went down just after 10 p.m on July 4 between Center Island and Lloyd's Neck in Cold Spring Harbor Bay, authorities said.

The passengers were on their way back from the privately financed Dolan family fireworks show. The 24 others on board were rescued by other boaters in the area.

Services for the two girls were held Tuesday. David's funeral was Monday.

Police say the tragedy has increased life vest sales and highlighted the need for better boating safety.

The Gaines family wants a law in her name called "Victoria's Law" that would require licensing of boat owners and continuing education. New York State now only requires a boating safety course and does not license boat operators.

Once the boat is lifted out of the water, it will be driven by a flatbed truck to the police Marine Bureau in East Rockaway.

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