Describing the Glen Sannox ferry as worth the wait would probably not be the best way of putting it, given the huge troubles the excruciating delay in its delivery by shipyard Ferguson Marine caused for people on Arran.

That said, boarding the ferry earlier this month at Troon, for the crossing to Brodick, it was immediately apparent the Glen Sannox is an impressive vessel.

This is not to declare the decision in the procurement process, led by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, that it should be a dual-fuel ferry capable of operating on marine diesel and liquefied natural gas did not add unnecessary and lamentable complexity.

Rather, it is to observe the scale of the vessel, including its capacity, and the passenger experience.

The mood on the packed vessel was no doubt helped by the fact that the sailing was on a Saturday at the peak of the recent long sunny spell, arguably a heatwave by Scottish standards.

The stillness of the water was a lot more reminiscent of the Greek islands than the west of Scotland, and its colour, while not quite as vivid as the Aegean perhaps, was as impressive as it was uncharacteristic.

There were seals swimming close to a buoy as the ferry departed. And the water in the distance at the base of Arran appeared almost white.

CalMac’s roll and bacon and potato scone was of the usual high standard. Memories of the........

© Herald Scotland