Puget Sound on Wednesday was calm, the skies were pretty clear.
But in the wheelhouse of the state ferry Puyallup between Edmonds and Kingston, Capt. Tim Koivu showed KIRO 7 the weather forecast printout he shared with his crew.
"Bring your rain gear is what this means," Koivu said.
Severe Weather Message to Customers
Koivu has worked for Washington State Ferries since 1974, and knows windstorms can make for rough crossings and difficult dockings.
"It's a giant sail on one area so it really affects how we come in from a landing," Koivu said of the 460-foot ferry.
Last week, a freak wave came over the bow of the Spokane, crushing a car windshield and denting the roof.
No one was hurt.
When rough seas are expected, Koivu keeps cars farther back from the bow.
He also slows down and changes course into the wind for a smoother ride.
"I know it looks impressive but none of us really want the water coming up to hit the pilothouse windows
Occasionally, high winds bring canceled sailings.
This is most likely in the San Juan Islands or between Port Townsend and Coupeville.
"Very exposed, smaller vessels on that route. It's like looking down the barrel of the gun there as you look at the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet," said Ian Sterling, spokesman for Washington State Ferries.
The Mukilteo-Clinton run can have rough seas.
Central Sound ferry routes are the least likely to be canceled for weather.
But ferry crews everywhere can find themselves rescuing boaters in trouble.
Last week, Capt. Koivu's crew used a rescue boat to pluck two kiteboarders out of the water.
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