As a sure sign that summer has arrived, ferries serving the Capital Region are boosting their sailings for the busy tourist season.
The M.V. COHO switches to its summer schedule June 21 (the first official day of summer), with four daily roundtrip sailings between Victoria and Port Angeles.
The passenger and vehicle ferry will depart Victoria daily at 6:10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with returns from Port Angeles at 8:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
The Victoria Clipper adds a third sailing to its summer schedule between B.C.'s capital and Seattle, departing daily at 11:20 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. from the Inner Harbour.
Last Friday, the Victoria Clipper III made an emergency stop in the San Juan Islands after a minor fire in the engine room.
Passengers were bussed from Shilshole Bay Marina to their Seattle destination, but Clipper Navigation officials said there was never any threat to passenger safety. The 231-passenger ship was expected to be back in service Thursday.
Meanwhile, B.C. Ferries is boosting its sailings across its fleet for summer travellers as well.
Beginning June 26, the Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen run will use four vessels that will make up to 32 sailings daily. Check bcferries.com for details.