Travellers heading between Vancouver Island and the mainland this afternoon and evening may want to check their plans before leaving home.
BC Ferries has cancelled several sailings between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen on Wednesday, March 11 due to strong winds expected in the Strait of Georgia.
The cancellations come as Environment Canada warns of gale-force winds across the South Coast marine areas, with winds expected to increase to 30 to 40 knots later today.
According to BC Ferries, the following sailings have been cancelled for safety reasons:
- 3 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
- 5 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
- 7 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
- 9 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
Sailings at risk of cancellation:
- 3 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
- 4 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
- 5 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
- 6 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
- 7 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
- 9 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
Additional sailings added:
- 8 p.m. departing Swartz Bay
- 10 p.m. departing Tsawwassen
Customers with reservations on cancelled sailings will be contacted by the company’s customer service team to arrange alternate travel or provide refunds if necessary.
#ServiceNotice To ensure the safety of our customers & crew, the following sailings between #SwartzBay – #Tsawwassen must be cancelled for today, as a result of Environment Canada’s severe weather forecast for high winds in the Strait of Georgia.
More: https://t.co/urNMKeo2Jy^sa
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) March 11, 2026
For those needing to travel between the Island and mainland, BC Ferries says alternate service is available via the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay route. However, vehicle travel departing Horseshoe Bay must currently be booked and paid in advance due to ongoing infrastructure upgrades at the terminal.
The ferry disruptions come as a sharp cold front moves across southern Vancouver Island, bringing strong winds and unsettled weather to the region.
Environment Canada says winds could reach up to 90 km/h across Greater Victoria, the southern Gulf Islands and the Malahat, with the strongest gusts expected Wednesday evening before easing Thursday.
Marine forecasts for the Strait of Georgia are also calling for seas to build between 9 and 16 feet this evening, which could make sailing conditions difficult.
Travellers are encouraged to check BC Ferries’ Current Conditions page or call 1-888-223-3779 for the latest sailing updates before heading to the terminal.
