• U.S.

Coolest Inventions 2004: Over Board

1 minute read
Anita Hamilton, Maryanne Murray Buechner, Lev Grossman, Simon Crittle and Sora Song

DREAM BOAT

The world’s fastest yacht with a single hull is a 140-ft. carbon-fiber wonder. With two 148ft. masts and five sails, the silver-colored Mari-Cha IV, owned by billionaire Robert Miller, can travel at speeds of up to 36 knots, about twice what other boats its size can do. It holds four world records, including the West Marine Pacific Cup, a race from San Francisco to Hawaii, which it won this past July.

INVENTORS Mari-Cha IV design team

AVAILABILITY Now, $12.6 million

TO LEARN MORE mari-chaIV.com

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com