I lived in California back in 1981, and this was a huge media story back then.
The “official” story was that Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken were arguing about something. Natalie Wood supposedly got off the yacht and into a dinghy in order to get away from the two men. The yacht was moored near Catalina, I believe.
It was night time, and Natalie Wood is said to have had a fear of the water at night, so I was surprised when it was claimed that she headed off into the night by herself in a dinghy. Natalie’s down jacket is supposed to have contributed to her drowning.
Hope the truth, whatever it is, finally comes out.
“The yacht was moored near Catalina, I believe.”
The boat was on a mooring in the Istmas of Catalina.