A Peaceful Farewell on the Water.

Ash Scattering at Sea

JADA provides personalized ash scattering ceremonies at sea for veterans and civilians. The Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay offer a profound setting for a final farewell, and JADA — a historic 1938 sailing schooner — provides a vessel worthy of the occasion.

Every memorial charter includes:

• A date and time of your choosing
• Your choice of location on San Diego Bay or the Pacific
• Attendance by family and loved ones — up to 28 guests
• A private, unhurried ceremony at your own pace

Veterans

For veterans, JADA offers what the U.S. Navy cannot: a private ceremony on your timeline with your family present. The VA does not perform burials at sea — they refer families to the Navy, which controls the date, location, and does not allow loved ones to attend.

See our full Veterans Burials at Sea page for a complete guide to VA benefits, the planning checklist, and how to coordinate with the VA before your service.

Civilian Memorials

A memorial charter aboard JADA is available for anyone — veteran or civilian — whose final wish was to be returned to the sea. We approach every service with the same care and dignity regardless of background or circumstance.

What to Expect

JADA departs from Harbor Island at the time you choose. The crew will sail to your selected location on the bay or offshore. You and your guests conduct the service in whatever form feels right — words, music, flowers, silence. The crew are experienced with memorial services and will follow your lead entirely.

JADA's historic character — her teak decks, her wooden masts, her 88 years at sea — creates a setting that feels both timeless and appropriate for a final farewell.