SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nearly two dozen people who were enjoying a boat ride on what's billed as San Francisco Bay's only "floating wine tasting room" are OK after their vessel hit a shoal near Alcatraz Island and started sinking Friday night.
U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. j.g. Josh Dykman says the 45-foot Neptune hit the shoal around 8:42 p.m. and started taking on water after the impact left a 1-foot gash in the side of the boat.
The boat's captain tried to get it back to Pier 39, where the boat is docked, but the captain had difficulty navigating the vessel and it started sinking.
Dykman says three Coast Guard boats took all 22 passengers and crewmembers off the vessel and brought them back to the pier.
There were no injuries. The damaged boat was towed to Sausalito Boat Works for repair.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
