Hydrofoil electric boat off to a flying start in Australian waters

The black and grey tones of its sleek carbon-fibre hull make it look slightly ominous, perhaps even military. And its ability to silently sneak up also suggests this might be some sort of stealth weapon.

But the real point of difference with the $750,000, electrically powered, Candela C-8 on which Life & Leisure is cruising Sydney Harbour becomes obvious once it hits 16 knots, or about 30km/h. At that point, this Swedish-built pleasure craft rises on its front and rear foils, and flies above the water with astonishing smoothness and almost no wake.