1 dead, 3 missing after memorial boat sinks near Alcatraz

A memorial outing for a Stockton family ended in catastrophe when a 50-foot, three-deck pontoon-style cabin cruiser capsized near Alcatraz Island, killing one man and leaving three people missing. The boat was carrying 20 adults, most of them family members, during a memorial service when it overturned about 600 yards from the island around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

The man who died was identified as Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, of Sutter County. He was pulled from the water in severe distress and later died. A dog aboard the vessel also died. Sixteen people were rescued, three were hospitalized in stable condition and were expected to be released, and three others remained missing as search-and-rescue operations continued.

Officials initially said 19 people had been aboard, then corrected the number to 20 after speaking with witnesses. The vessel, based out of Stockton and identified as the Velari, had launched near the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. When responders arrived, the motor was still running and leaking fuel. Authorities said there was no evidence of fire on board.

The U.S. Coast Guard kept searching overnight, using boats, helicopters, divers, thermal imaging and tide and prediction modeling. The search area expanded west of the Golden Gate Bridge and into deeper water, including the shipping channel where the vessel sank. Surviving passengers were taken to Gashouse Cove Marina, where a family reunification center was set up with the American Red Cross assisting relatives who were waiting for word on the missing.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described the effort as an “all-hands-on-deck” search and rescue operation. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi also thanked responders and urged people to keep the families in their thoughts.