A boat carrying 20 passengers, most of whom were family and friends, sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay on July 16, 2026.The vessel, named Volare, was en route to Angel Island for a memorial service honoring Maria Boisa, a nurse who died by suicide in 2015.As the group returned from their trip, strong afternoon winds caused the 49-foot boat to take on water approximately 600 yards off Alcatraz.The vessel began sinking around 3:30 p.m., leaving one person dead and three missing and presumed dead.Rescuers, including the U.S.

Coast Guard and San Francisco Fire Department, launched a massive search operation amid challenging conditions, including deep waters (130 feet) that limited diving efforts.Despite extensive searches covering 950 square miles over 54 hours, the active search was suspended due to low probabilities of finding survivors.The boat's owner, John Boisa, and his brother Clifford Joseph Boisa, who died in the incident, were identified.A dog aboard also perished.Authorities are assessing whether to recover the sunken vessel using an underwater drone.The tragedy highlights the risks of maritime travel during severe weather and raises questions about safety protocols for recreational boating.