Key Takeaways
- A 49‑foot cabin cruiser, the Volare, capsized near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, leaving at least two confirmed deaths and two passengers still missing.
- Police located the submerged wreckage three days after the accident using sonar and a remotely operated vehicle, resting about 120 feet below the surface.
- Investigators are weighing whether to raise the vessel, a complex and costly undertaking that could illuminate the cause of the capsizing.
- The tragedy struck during a family gathering to scatter ashes of a beloved relative, with 17 occupants rescued and three hospitalized.
- The U.S. Coast Guard ended its active search after covering 950 square nautical miles, but local agencies continue recovery and investigative efforts.
- Recovery timing will depend on weather, tides, underwater conditions, and the vessel’s stability, with no timeline announced yet.
Discovery of Wreckage
The San Francisco Police Department announced on Friday that the Volare was found underwater near the spot where it overturned on Tuesday afternoon. The vessel now rests on the bay floor in rugged, rocky terrain, approximately 120 feet beneath the surface. Marine Unit officers employed boat‑mounted sonar equipment to pinpoint the wreckage after several days of searching. Shortly thereafter, a remotely operated vehicle was dispatched to assess the condition of the submerged hull. Authorities have not yet decided whether raising the craft is safe or economically viable, but the discovery marks a critical step in the ongoing investigation.
Recovery Challenges and Possibilities
Salvaging a boat at a depth of roughly 120 feet presents significant technical hurdles. Strong currents, limited visibility, and the risk of further destabilizing the wreck complicate any recovery operation. Marine engineers note that such salvage work can be both expensive and time‑consuming, often requiring specialized equipment and expertise. Despite these obstacles, officials acknowledge that retrieving the Volare may be essential to determine precisely why the vessel rolled over and sank. Until a feasibility study is completed, the possibility of a full recovery remains uncertain.
Victims and Ongoing Investigation
Two victims have been recovered and identified: Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, of Sutter County, who was pulled from the water on Tuesday but later died, and Tondra Madruga, 58, of Sacramento County, found on Thursday. Both deaths have been confirmed by authorities. Two passengers remain missing: Jackie Boisa, the wife of Clifford Boisa, and his sister Carol Boisa. Investigators continue to explore whether any occupants may still be trapped inside the submerged cabin, a scenario that could influence the urgency of a recovery effort. The Coast Guard has emphasized that no official cause has been established, and any recovered evidence could shed light on the sequence of events that led to the capsizing.
Family Context and Memorial Gathering
The Volare was carrying roughly 20 passengers, most of whom were members of the extended Boisa family. They had assembled on the bay to scatter the ashes of Maria Boisa, a relative who passed away in 2015 and held a fondness for the San Francisco Bay. According to family members, several individuals were located inside the enclosed cabin when the incident occurred. Commercial fishermen who responded to the emergency described a chaotic scene, with survivors battling rough waters and some passengers reportedly trapped as the vessel sank. The captain, John Boisa, has pledged cooperation with investigators but has refrained from making public statements about the incident.
Coast Guard Search and Suspension
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search on Wednesday after an extensive sweep covering more than 950 square nautical miles of the bay. Despite the suspension, local law‑enforcement and rescue groups have continued their own recovery and investigative activities. Coast Guard officials have indicated that a strong possibility exists that some missing victims could still be inside the sunken vessel, underscoring the importance of locating the wreckage for further clarification.
Future Operations and Timeline
Authorities have not announced a definitive schedule for any salvage operation. The decision to raise the Volare will hinge on several factors, including prevailing weather conditions, tidal patterns, underwater terrain, and the structural integrity of the submerged hull. Investigators from the Coast Guard, San Francisco Police Department, and partner agencies are jointly evaluating these variables to determine the safest and most effective course of action. Until those assessments are complete, the focus remains on thorough documentation of the wreck site and continued search efforts for the two individuals still unaccounted for.
Conclusion
The discovery of the Volare’s wreckage brings a measure of clarity to a tragic event that claimed lives and left families grieving. While the vessel now rests at the bottom of San Francisco Bay, its retrieval could prove pivotal in uncovering the precise cause of the capsizing and ensuring that appropriate safety lessons are learned for future maritime activities. Until then, investigators and rescue teams remain committed to both the recovery of missing persons and the meticulous analysis of evidence that may prevent similar incidents in the future.