The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for three missing passengers at sunset Wednesday after a cabin cruiser capsized near Alcatraz Island [1], [2].
The incident underscores the extreme danger of San Francisco Bay's cold and choppy waters, where rapid temperature drops can make survival unlikely within hours.
The vessel, a 49-foot cabin cruiser named Volare [1], was carrying 20 adults consisting of family members and friends [3]. The boat capsized in hazardous conditions, leading to a day-long search operation that began on Tuesday [4], [5].
Authorities identified one victim as 79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa [6]. Despite the efforts of rescue crews, three other passengers remained missing as the operation continued throughout Wednesday [2], [6].
Coast Guard officials decided to end the search after more than 24 hours of active operations [7]. The agency said that the search was unlikely to succeed given the environmental conditions and the duration of the disappearance [8].
"Our goal is always to bring," a Coast Guard spokesperson said [9].
The suspension of the search occurred at sunset on July 15, 2026 [4], [5]. The operation involved multiple assets monitoring the waters around the historic island, and the wider bay area [1], [2].
“The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for three missing passengers at sunset Wednesday.”
The suspension of this search highlights the critical window for rescue in the San Francisco Bay, where hypothermia and strong currents often dictate the timeline of survival. With a high passenger-to-vessel ratio on a 49-foot boat, the incident may prompt further scrutiny of safety protocols and passenger limits for private cruisers operating in choppy bay waters.
