The family memorial boat that sank near Alcatraz has been located 130 feet below the surface of San Francisco Bay, though officials say the wreck sits so deep that crews are still assessing whether it can be safely recovered.
The San Francisco Police Department said Friday that its Marine Unit found the 49-foot cabin cruiser, the Volare, after several days of searching the bay with boat-mounted sonar following Tuesday’s fatal incident.
Police are now examining the wreck with a remotely operated underwater vehicle and coordinating with partner agencies to decide whether raising the vessel is possible without creating further danger.
The Volare was discovered in a heavily dredged shipping channel roughly 600 yards west of Alcatraz Island, resting about 120 to 130 feet beneath the water.
The yacht went under at about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday while carrying 20 close friends and family members who had gathered for a memorial service to scatter the ashes of John and Clifford Boisa’s deceased daughter and niece.
Investigators believe the three-deck boat was hit by a large wave in a stretch of the bay known for dangerous and unpredictable conditions.
The force of the wave reportedly pushed the vessel into a hard starboard list, allowing water to rush in before the boat rolled over.
Authorities are also reviewing whether the way passengers were positioned across the boat’s three decks may have played a role in its stability when the wave struck.
Witnesses reported some passengers were hurled into the frigid bay while others appeared trapped inside the lower cabin as the boat disappeared beneath the surface.
Only about half of those aboard were wearing life jackets.
Nearby civilian boaters, along with crews from the San Francisco Police Department, San Francisco Fire Department and the US Coast Guard, rescued 16 people from the water.
Boat owner, captain, and US Navy veteran John Boisa survived the sinking.
His older brother, 79-year-old Clifford Joseph Boisa of Sutter County, was rescued alive Tuesday but later died from cardiac arrest and exposure.
The second confirmed victim, 58-year-old Tondra Miller, also known as Tondra Madruga, of Sacramento County, was found Thursday afternoon floating near Treasure Island after being spotted by a passing vessel.
Two family members remain missing and are presumed dead: Clifford’s wife, Jackie Boisa, and his sister, Carol Boisa.
The Coast Guard ended its desperate search Wednesday evening after covering more than 950 square nautical miles.
The mission has since shifted to recovery efforts.
Getting the boat back will not be easy.
Resting 120 to 130 feet below the surface in dark, fast-moving water, the vessel is beyond the range of local public safety dive teams.
At that depth, standard scuba diving carries serious risks, including nitrogen narcosis and lengthy decompression requirements, forcing crews to rely on specialized salvage divers, custom gas mixtures such as Trimix and remotely operated vehicles.
For now, investigators are relying on sonar and underwater robots as the recovery effort continues for the two missing family members.
Police said the investigation into what caused the Volare to sink remains ongoing.
“Our hearts go out to all the individuals involved in this tragic incident,” the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. “The SFPD would like to thank all our partner agencies and members of the public for their quick actions during the rescue and for their tireless work on the response and search for the missing individuals.”
