Scottish ferry sets sail to Isle of Arran - seven years late

It set sail nearly seven years late, but in the event proved its worth.

- Severin Carrell

After quelling stormy seas that left two other ferries sheltering in harbour, the Glen Sannox is finally serving islanders on Arran.

As if to prove its durability, some passengers on its first scheduled voyage at dawn yesterday reacted in the traditional fashion to heavy seas - by vomiting into its brand-new toilets, while trays slid over cafeteria tables.

Its maiden voyage from Troon to Brodick should bring to an end years of cancelled sailings for Arran, which have damaged its fragile tourist economy and left hospital patients and wedding parties stranded.

Officials with CalMac, the ferry's state-owned operators, went to bed on Sunday night after seeing it successfully complete a test run to Brodick. But they still were wondering whether the stormy weather overnight might scupper the sailing. There were 40mph winds forecast for the seas off the Ayrshire coast.

In the event, it did leave 21 minutes late, only because its crew were making doubly sure the 32 cars and lorries onboard, and its 104 passengers - about 20 of whom were reporters, press photographers and camera crew - were safely embarked.