Researchers have developed a solo catamaran day-sailer with hydrofoils that they claim is faster than America's Cup yachts.

The catamaran, nicknamed Twin Ducks, was jointly developed by the Institute of Industrial Science, the research arm of the University of Tokyo, and a boating organization in Shizuoka Prefecture, a group spokesman group said.

Four hydrofoils enabled the yacht to reach a sailing speed of between 15 kph and 20 kph in tests, even in mild winds of 11 kph to 14 kph.