One person is dead and three remain missing after a 50-foot cabin cruiser named Volare capsized near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. According to the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), 16 of the 20 passengers on board were rescued, while three injured individuals were transported to local hospitals in stable condition. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently leading an overnight search and rescue operation for the three missing mariners.
Rescue Operations and Search Efforts
The incident began when the SFFD received reports of a vessel in distress approximately 600 yards off Alcatraz Island at 3:37 p.m. While initial reports suggested the boat might be on fire, SFFD Chief Dean Crispen stated that officials found no evidence of a blaze. Instead, witnesses reported that the three-story pontoon boat encountered rough seas, began taking on water, and subsequently turned over in the bay. According to Lt. Mariano Elias of the SFFD, rescuers arriving on the scene found the vessel mostly submerged with passengers already in the water.
The San Francisco Police Department’s (SFPD) Marine Unit was the first to reach the site. Officers pulled one man from the water in severe distress and attempted CPR while transporting him to Gas House Cove in the Marina District, where he was later pronounced deceased. The SFFD confirmed that one dog also died in the sinking.
Ongoing Search and Incident Context
The U.S. Coast Guard is utilizing modeling software to predict the drift and location of the missing individuals. Lt. John Corvino stated that the agency is strictly applying this data to deploy surface and air assets, which will continue to provide coverage throughout the night. Officials clarified that the vessel, which originated from the St. Francis Yacht Club and was based in Stockton, was carrying 20 people—a correction from an initial estimate of 19 passengers.
Chief Crispen noted that the passengers appeared to be family members who were gathered for what he described as “some kind of memorial service” when the vessel was struck by a wave and capsized. The investigation into the exact sequence of events is ongoing as search efforts continue.
Next Steps in the Investigation
As the search continues through the night, the primary focus for the U.S. Coast Guard remains the recovery of the three missing persons. The condition of the 16 survivors, including the three hospitalized individuals, will remain a point of follow-up for local authorities as they piece together the timeline of the capsizing.
Update (July 15, 2026)
According to kqed.org, the deceased victim has been identified as 79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa of Sutter County, who was a volunteer sheriff for over a decade. The vessel was captained by his younger brother, John Boisa. Family members reported the group was holding a memorial for a relative named Maria, and that Clifford’s wife and a fourth sibling, Carol, are among the three people still missing.
Fishing boat captain Aaron Anfinson, who assisted in the rescue, noted that some passengers were not wearing life jackets and there was no life raft on board. David McMurdie of California Recovery Divers added that the search is hindered by poor surface conditions and near-zero underwater visibility, noting that rescue divers face "blackout conditions" while attempting to navigate the submerged wreckage.
