A 79-year-old former reserve deputy sheriff died when a pleasure boat capsized in San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island. The three-level vessel sank Tuesday afternoon with 20 people aboard.
Sixteen passengers were rescued, three were taken to hospitals, and three remain missing. Authorities plan to suspend the search for the missing after sunset, having spent roughly 23 hours covering more than 950 square nautical miles.
The capsized vessel, a 49‑foot boat, rests about 130 feet below the surface. An underwater drone will be deployed to locate the hull before decisions on recovery are made.
All aboard were members of an extended family or close friends gathered for a memorial service that included scattering ashes in the bay. No children were on board, and the names of the missing passengers have not been released.
Fire crews responded around 3:35 p.m. after a reported vessel fire near Alcatraz Island, but found no fire evidence. Instead, they discovered the boat capsized while returning from Angel Island, with the upper deck partially above water and the engine still running, leaking fuel.
First responders rescued one person from the water and pulled additional occupants from the vessel’s upper compartment. The pilot, who was hospitalized, has since been released.
Investigators are examining vessel stability, weather, and water conditions. Preliminary findings suggest a wave may have swamped the boat, causing it to roll and sink, but the exact cause remains under investigation.
Strong summer winds and rapidly changing conditions in the bay are known to create hazardous boating environments. Commercial fishermen who assisted described a frantic rescue as passengers struggled to escape, with some lacking life vests.
Search efforts employed boats, helicopters, thermal imaging, tide predictions, and drift modeling. The decision to pause the search follows exhaustive coverage of the area.
The vessel departed from near the St. Francis Yacht Club before the incident. The investigation into the sinking continues.
