A CROSS-Solent war has broken out between two major ferry companies to capture the most passengers during the UK's biggest sailing festival next month.

For the first time in the company's history, which can be traced back to 1810, Wightlink will be operating a high speed catamaran between Lymington and the Isle of Wight with passengers travelling from the mainland to West Cowes.

This comes as Southampton's Red Funnel ferry company has introduced the company's largest ever catamaran on its route between Southampton and West Cowes just in time for the hectic summer season, including the Skandia Cowes Week yachting regatta.

During the world famous yacht races and regatta thousands of people cross the Solent every day to watch the competitions and take part in the annual international sporting event making it one of the busiest and biggest money spinning periods for the ferry companies.

A Wightlink spokesman said if the service proved to be successful then it would be introduced again next year.

"Obviously if we think the demand is there for a similar service all the year round then we would examine that possibility as well, after all that makes business sense,'' said the spokesman.

Aimed at both Cowes Week crews and spectators, the half-hour crossing on Wightlink's new FastCat vessel will operate between Saturday, August 2 and Friday, August 8 to Thetis Wharf in West Cowes.

A total of six crossings will be undertaken daily from Lymington, starting at 7.30am, and the same number will depart from Cowes with the last crossing back to the mainland scheduled at 7pm.

Passengers wanting to stay on for the evening can use their tickets on the traditional Yarmouth to Lymington ferry.

A Wightlink spokesman said the decision to divert one of its four FastCat craft from the usual Portsmouth to Ryde Pier route was taken to support the organisers of Skandia Cowes Week.

"Many of the crews taking part in this year's event are basing themselves in Lymington."