TEETHING problems and low tides have led to Wightlink’s controversial new W-Class Lymington to Yarmouth ferries running up to 45 minutes late.

The two large craft, Wight Light and Wight Sky, which have been generally opposed in Lymington on environmental and safety grounds, went into operation last Wednesday.

Crossings were affected by difficult tidal conditions all day yesterday.

A regular commuter said yesterday’s 7.30am from Yarmouth ran exactly six minutes late and his ferry, the 8am, sailed at 8.15am.

One day last week, the 7.30am from Yarmouth sailed at 8.15am and on Tuesday night the 5pm from Lymington went at 5.45pm.

His homeward journey on Friday was delayed by five minutes when the ferry ran aground at Yarmouth. “Not badly,” he said. “We just touched the bottom gently and it took a bit longer to get in.”

There have also been troubles with vehicles bottoming out as they cross the linkspan at Yarmouth.

Wightlink marketing manager Kerry Jackson admitted sailings yesterday were 15 to 20 minutes late all day.

She said there have been “a few teething problems”.

“Having now identified what we believe to be the principal operational issues, we are starting to address each one in turn in order to improve the efficiency of the service,” she said.

“The master and crews are starting to learn how to load and discharge the vessels efficiently and, more importantly, quickly.

“Crossing times are also decreasing accordingly, despite the exceptionally low tide which hasn’t helped at certain points of the day.”

She said the company was also investigating tweaking the timetable slightly in the run up to Easter “to ease the pressure during this learning phase so we can operate to the maximum”.

The problem with the Yarmouth linkspan was a hydraulic one and “will be repaired in the next couple of days”.