Unlike other venture capitalists who buy diesel driven yachts, Tom Perkins must have heeded colleague John Doerr's call for environmentally friendly tech when he commissioned the building of The Maltese Falcon, a $100 million yacht driven primarily by three giant masts. Over the weekend, the vessel formally set sail from Italy. Built for the founder of venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the 87.5-meter yacht sports three 57-meter tall masts each with six yards from which the sails hang. Although the vessel would look at home in Connecticut's Mystic Seaport among the 19th century Clipper ships, the Maltese Falcon puts the mariners of old to shame — and perhaps a grin on Doerr's face — when it comes to efficiency because the masts on the vessel rotate to make the ship more aerodynamic. No word on whether Doerr joined Perkins on the ship's maiden voyage.—Matthew Wurtzel
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