WATCH: Waves crash onto the ferry sailing from Quadra Island to Campbell River during the noon hour on Jan. 2. Credit: Bubba Muldoe
The noon sailing from Quadra Island to Campbell River was a dramatic one for Taylor Christmas, her husband Bubba Muldoe and their kids.
The family and other passengers who were on the 12 p.m. sailing from Quadra Island to Campbell River saw waves crashing over the open-car deck. Christmas said since the ferry was only a 10-minute crossing, she decided to stay in the car while Muldoe and the two toddlers went upstairs to the washroom.
“I was in the car when water was coming over my Honda Civic. I was quite nervous but at that point, I had to stay in my car,” Christmas said.
“It took them a lot to get the ferry into the dock, as it was rocking so bad.”
Muldoe managed to get a video of the intense waves. The rest of the family joined Christmas back at the car once the ferry was docked.
Before their rough trip to Campbell River, the family was also on the Cortes Island to Quadra Island ferry at 9:50 a.m. On that ferry, which takes 45 minutes, everyone was told to get upstairs.
“It was very rocky and we felt sick,” Christmas said.
Christmas said all the BC Ferries staff were polite and helpful and added that it was quite a way to welcome the new year. There were no reports of any injuries on either trip.
BC Ferries cancelled the 1:05 p.m. ferry and the 3:05 p.m. ferry departing Quadra Island (Heriot Bay), and the 1:50 p.m. ferry and the 3:50 p.m. ferry departing Cortes Island (Whaletown), for the Cortes Island to Quadra Island (Heriot Bay) route due to high winds.
#ServiceNotice #QuadraIsland – #CortesIsland #MVTachek cancelled sailings today 1:05pm ex. #HeriotBay (Quadra Isl.) & 1:50pm ex. #Whaletown (Cortes Isl.) due to adverse weather conditions: https://t.co/XOMSsr7nY9. ^hy
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 2, 2019
For the Campbell River to Quadra Island (Quathiaski Cove) route, the 1 p.m. ferry departing Quathiaski Cove and the 1:30 p.m. departing Campbell River were cancelled, also due to the high winds. Sailings resumed at 2:05 p.m. after weather conditions improved. However, later in the afternoon, the 4 p.m. ferry leaving Quathiaski Cove and the 4:30 p.m. leaving Campbell River were cancelled due to the high winds.
Environment Canada has issued wind and rainfall warnings for east Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. West Vancouver Island, inaldn Vancouver Island and the Malahat highway from Goldstream to Mill Bay are also under a rainfall warning.
Alexa Huffman
