The bigger picture - The 70mph Albatross [Transport Powerboats]

A high-speed powerboat inspired by First World War biplanes has become the world\´s first to \´fly\´ above the water at up to 70mph. Rather than being driven by an underwater propeller, the 18ft wFoil Albatross is pulled along by a rotor made from aeronauticalgrade aluminium. Carbon-fibre hydrofoils lift the hull, which is hand-crafted from mountain spruce, clear of the water to minimise drag. Slovenian pilot and engineer Tomaz Zore spent ten years developing the two-seater craft, claimed to be the first hydrofoiling personal powerboat ever to go on sale on the open market at a price of ??200,000. He describes it as "the ultimate joy machine", inspired by the era of biplanes: "Those years in aviation meant the years of freedom, where you could just sit in the plane, start the engine and fly away. The same goes for the Albatross." www.wfoilsail.com