On a similar vein I remember a 'burial at sea' where someone's ashes were spread upon the water in Middle Harbour (a northern arm off Sydney Harbour) back in the 70s.
Unfortunately it was a Sunday and very busy with racing skiffs of various types
None being aware of the goings on in time we all raced past the boat being used for the somber occassion and picked up a coating of the said individual on the hulls of our boats.:
After the race we all hosed and scrubbed him/her off down the storm water drain next to the club house..which fortunately ended up back in the harbour again
Chuck.