October 13, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Hi-tech new water craft lets you frolic like a dolphin!
By Susan Shepherd

LONDON, October 13, Graphic News:  From ancient times, human beings have felt a special affinity with the dolphin. Messengers of the Greek sea god, Poseidon, dolphins have long been associated with rescue, protection and good fortune. They were sacred to both Aphrodite and Apollo, and, in Hindu mythology, the dolphins of the Ganges have their special place alongside the river deity, Ganga.
 
Certainly the makers of a new leisure craft, the Seabreacher, modelled on and purporting to imitate the sleek energy of the dolphin, will be hoping the creature proves a good omen for their highly original business venture. Innespace, of California, has developed a powerful machine -- best described as a cross between a jet-ski and a small submarine -- which takes its inspiration straight from the joyful leaping and diving of man's favourite sea mammal, complete with aerodynamic fin and flippers. 
 
It started six years ago with a single-seater prototype. Teething troubles, including leaks into the cockpit, were gradually solved and the design refined until, in 2007, the two-seater version emerged. With a 1500cc, 215hp marine engine -- equivalent to that of a small sports car -- and weighing 1,250-lbs (566kg), the vessel powers through the water at speeds of up to 40mph (65km/h) on the surface and 20mph (32km/h) below. A snorkel feeds air to the engine when submerged, while the thickness of the canopy is the same as that of an F-22 fighter jet. It has three basic controls: pitch, to dive to a depth of three feet or leap 12 feet (3m) into the air; roll, including a 360 degree barrel-roll facility for the truly fearless; and yaw, enabling the pilot to change direction in a split second. 
 
Seabreacher co-owner, Rob Innes, describes the experience as intense, extreme play. "It's like monster trucks for the water," he says. With Americans spending an estimated $34 billion a year on water sports, Innes is hoping the United States will lead the way in making his creation the latest must-have recreational vehicle. "Be the coolest kid on the water," runs the promotional video. Meanwhile, Innespace has already shipped Seabreachers to Korea and the Gulf.
 
As thrills go, there's nothing cheap about this one. Models start at $48,000 for the basic version, without customised launcher and minus any delivery costs, rising to $68,000 for the top-of-the-range item, with bespoke upholstery and finish. As for the skill level required, the manufacturer says anyone with a driver's license can operate one. That, and an age-old longing to swim like a dolphin.
/ENDS