Exclusive | Elaine Forbes’ wife visits her in custody after ex-Port of San Francisco boss’ bizarre arrest

The estranged wife of embattled former Port of San Francisco executive director Elaine Forbes rushed to her side Monday after the Sausalito city manager’s bizarre yacht arrest – but didn’t post her bail to get her out of jail, The Post has learned.

Angela Cavillo, the longtime clerk of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, visited Forbes while she was first in custody Monday following her arrest on suspicion of felony burglary after authorities say she was found aboard a 75-foot yacht in Sausalito.

The two spent years together as a power couple in San Francisco, Carvillo a respected City Hall bureaucrat and Forbes a powerful leader at the powerful Port of San Francisco.

But the two separated in September 2022 and began divorce proceedings in early 2023. Forbes would go on to abruptly resign from her role at the port in September 2025, which shocked political insiders in the well-heeled city.

Records obtained by The Post show Forbes agreed to a property settlement with Cavillo that divided two Bay Area homes and required Forbes to make a six-figure payment.

Under the October 2023 agreement, Forbes retained the couple’s home on 19th Street in San Francisco’s Dolores Heights/Eureka Valley neighborhood, near the Castro.

The parties valued the property at $1.7 million after deciding against selling it.

Cavillo, meanwhile, kept a lake house in Auburn that the parties valued at $554,000.

The settlement recognized that Forbes had contributed $90,000 in separate funds toward the down payment.

Cavillo agreed to pay Forbes $90,000 to reimburse that contribution, with the agreement specifying that no remaining equity in the property would be divided. Cavillo was given one year to refinance the mortgage into her own name.

The agreement also required Cavillo to reimburse Forbes $5,000 for expenses related to preparing the San Francisco home for sale and awarded Cavillo sole ownership of a BMW. After accounting for the property division, Forbes agreed to pay Cavillo a net equalization payment of $242,500.

However, the divorce has not been finalized, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Reports have suggested alcohol played a central role in the incident over the weekend, but Forbes’ family is working with mental health professionals and attorneys as they navigate the aftermath.

“Elaine is experiencing a mental health crisis,” Sam Singer, a spokesperson for the family, said in a statement after the arrest.

“We ask that no one rush to judgment based on limited information.”

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The yacht’s captain, Bill Aubrey, told the San Francisco Standard he discovered previously full bottles of Grey Goose vodka and tequila empty after Forbes was found aboard the vessel. The captain also said Forbes appeared calm and cordial, greeting him with “Good morning!” when confronted inside the yacht’s wheelhouse.

“She didn’t seem disheveled,” Aubrey said, describing Forbes’ demeanor as “normal, friendly.”

Authorities say Forbes was discovered early Saturday morning aboard the yacht after its horn began blaring around dawn.

Investigators allege she initially claimed the boat belonged to her before the owner confirmed she did not have permission to be aboard.

She was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony burglary.

Forbes is was being held on $50,000 bail, but she and her legal representative decided not to seek bail at this time as the legal situation plays out.

The arrest came just weeks after Forbes started her new $275,000-a-year job as Sausalito city manager — and only days after the City Council placed her on administrative leave during a closed-session meeting for reasons officials have not disclosed.

Forbes previously spent nearly a decade leading the Port of San Francisco, where she oversaw hundreds of employees and major waterfront redevelopment projects.

She was widely hailed for her professionalism and steady leadership of the port.

However, another source with knowledge of the situation told The Post that Forbes started to suffer from mental health issues as recently as last summer.

Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office was interested in finding a new port director and negotiating Forbes’ departure when she abruptly resigned from her post in September, the source told The Post.

Officials in the mayor’s office did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment.

Sausalito’s City Council is expected to discuss the situation in closed session during its meeting Tuesday. City officials have declined to comment beyond confirming Forbes remains on administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation.