Alcatraz Sinking: Search Halted
Coast Guard Suspends Search for Three Missing After Boat Sinks Near Alcatraz
Anonymous
Key Points
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Clifford Boisa was identified by the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as a 79-year-old from Sutter County, and reports note he was the older brother of John Boisa, the boat's owner and captain.
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Three survivors, including the boat’s operator, were taken to local hospitals in stable condition and have since been released.
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Initial reports of a fire on the vessel were unsubstantiated; officials said the ‘smoke’ observed was steam from water hitting the engine, not a fire.
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The sinking occurred roughly 600 yards off Alcatraz Island, on a memorial trip from the St. Francis Yacht Club when the boat was hit by a wave and quickly rolled.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search for three missing passengers at sunset Wednesday, ending roughly 24 hours of operations following the sinking of the 49-foot cabin cruiser Volare near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. One person was confirmed dead and three remain missing after the boat, carrying 20 people on a memorial trip, was struck by a wave and quickly rolled, according to Local News Matters.
The confirmed fatality was Clifford Boisa, 79, a retiree from Sutter County identified by the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to KRON4. He was the older brother of John Boisa, the boat's owner and captain. A dog on board also died. Sixteen of the 20 passengers were rescued, and three survivors — including the operator — were hospitalized in stable condition and have since been released.
24 Hours of Searching Turned Up Nothing
Coast Guard crews covered roughly 950 nautical square miles using 11 surface vessels and four aircraft over about 24 continuous hours, according to Local News Matters. They flew and sailed more than 1,700 miles of search patterns across challenging Bay conditions. No survivors were found beyond the original 16 rescued shortly after the sinking.
Coast Guard leaders called the decision to end the search one of the hardest actions they undertake. Families of the three missing were notified before the suspension took effect at sunset Wednesday, according to BNO News.
Wave Strike Sent Boat to 130-Foot Bottom
The Volare sank about 600 yards off Alcatraz Island in water roughly 130 feet deep, according to BNO News. The group had departed from the St. Francis Yacht Club on a "celebration of life" memorial trip when a wave struck the vessel. The boat rolled quickly, giving passengers little time to escape.
Officials believe the three missing passengers may have been trapped inside the enclosed main or lower decks when the boat went under, according to Local News Matters. That detail complicates any recovery effort, as diving in 130-foot-deep Bay water is difficult and dangerous.
No Fire — Just Steam From a Flooded Engine
Early reports described smoke rising from the stricken vessel, raising fears of a fire on top of the sinking. Officials later clarified there was no fire, according to Yahoo News. What witnesses saw was steam produced when cold Bay water hit the boat's hot engine — not flames.
Rescue Pulled 16 Survivors From Cold Bay Waters
Sixteen of the 20 people aboard were pulled from San Francisco Bay after the Volare capsized, according to KRON4. Three of those survivors, including the boat's operator, were taken to local hospitals in stable condition. All three have since been released.
The New York Post reported the boat began taking on water before it went fully under, suggesting the sinking unfolded fast but not instantly, according to New York Post. The speed of the roll, combined with the enclosed deck areas, likely cut off escape routes for the three still missing.
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