Qatar vs USA
 

QATAR MARINE SPORTS FEDERATION (QMSF) LATEST NEWS



For immediate release

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013



SHEIKH HASSAN ANNOUNCES HIS OWN VERSION

OF THE ‘RYDER CUP’ OF POWERBOAT RACING



· QMSF president relishes chance for Qatar to take on the USA

· Exciting American racing programme beckons for QMSF team



DOHA (QATAR): His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani is delighted to announce that the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) is making its final preparations for an exciting new racing programme in the United States of America and that Qatar will go head-to-head with the mighty USA with a two-pronged racing challenge this season.



What has already been termed the new ‘Ryder Cup’ of world powerboat racing will be fought out on rounds of this year’s Super Boat International (SBI) Championship, although the president of the QMSF laid down the gauntlet for the ‘Qatar v USA’ challenge last season with ongoing support for U-1 Spirit of Qatar 96 in the 2012 H1 Unlimited Championship.



“A two-fold attack on the Americans was the plan from the start of the season,” enthused Sheikh Hassan. “I know that it adds to the weight of responsibility with our racing programme, but I am confident that we can do it.”



Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis will challenge the Americans in their own waters at the helm of a mighty turbine-engined race boat on as many rounds of 2013 Super Boat International (SBI) as possible.



“All the turbine boats in the USA are very strong and it is difficult to choose between them. We must also remember that piston-engined boats are very competitive as well and we should never lose sight of their competitiveness. They are capable of the same speed as turbines and will play a major role in determining the outcome of the title race.”



A second yet-to-be-decided crew will use a rebuilt version of the Key West-winning Spirit of Qatar 96 in one of the classes at the same race meetings as Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis. “We have yet to decide upon the crew or the class that will be entered at the same races by the Spirit of Qatar Team,” confirmed the QMSF president.



“After the Key West experience, winning the World Championship title and the challenges that we faced, I felt that it was time to raise the bar even higher,” said an excited Sheikh Hassan. “Now is the time to fight with the big power in the different classes and at new race venues where the fans appreciate the racing and the atmosphere is fantastic. That’s why we are coming to American open waters to race!”



Sheikh Hassan’s new turbine boat, which has been built in the USA in collaboration with Whispering Turbines, Five-Axis Industries and Mystic Powerboats, is nearing completion. “It’s in the final stages of rigging and painting, so it’s all coming along nicely,” added the defending Key West world champion, who has used many of his original Class 1 racing crew, in addition to new American team members to get the project up and running.



The new Mystic Spirit of Qatar Extreme/Turbine racing boat will be powered by a pair of T53 turbine engines, delivering around 1,600hp apiece and capable of propelling the boat to a top speed of 354km/h (200 mph) using Five-Axis technology.



Qatar’s new American racing programme was originally planned around the series starting in Florida in May, but Super Boat International officials Stateside added the additional event at Biloxi in Mississippi on April 25-28 and two other venues to the nine-round calendar. Sheikh Hassan’s team is working around the clock to try to be ready for race one.



“It will be very hard to prepare for that first race, as we had originally planned our racing around what had been issued in the first calendar. The two new venues have created an issue for us and we will have to rework our racing programme to suit our plans.” Sheikh Hassan admits that two summer races also fall during the Holy Month of Ramadan.



If everything goes according to plan in the coming weeks, Sheikh Hassan and the Spirit of Qatar Team will begin the eagerly awaited Qatar v USA challenge at Biloxi in America’s deep south on April 25th.



2013 Super Boat International (SBI) calendar

April 25-28 Biloxi, Mississippi

May 17-19 Cocoa Beach, Florida

May 31-June 2 Orange Beach, Alabama

July 5-7 Sarasota, Florida

July 19-21 Miami, Florida

August 2-4 Michigan City, Michigan

September 6-8 New York, New York State

September 27-29 Clearwater, Florida

November 3-10 Key West World Championships, Florida

Wow cant wait to see the Super boat class reply to that. This is going to get interesting quick. I'm sure they r going to tell them to BRING IT. Looks like a full schedule, good job guys.

Marc always says....BRING IT....My motto says...BRING IT....so you know what you gotta do....BRING IT!

Chris

I hope we will get to see Spirit of Qatar VS Miss Geico Team U.S.A. at the St. Clair River Classic this year.

According to their schedule doesnt look like it this yr, but you never know its boat racing ...

Looks like Cocoa Beach will be the first match, and i'm sure it will be a good one.

With all that bling those guys got I hope the pits are not in the sand box again.

That would be a huge disappointment.

Brian we are in the same pit but they said the city put sod down last yr after we left so hopefully it wil lbe better Lol ...I did say hopefully.

See you there

I haven't been on OSO much as of late, but it seems to me that all of a sudden turbine boats are the thing. I know the Miss Geico boys went to piston power after the fire, but I'm thinking this is the time to get back into turbine. Funny how the turbine class has some life after Miss Geico burns up. Where was this "competition" before ?

The only 2 other active race boats are Aqua Maniia and Mary Mac. They have been around for a while , and to answer your question the Aqua Mania team had so health issues, and Mary Mac also had some damage from a fire. Now u know where they were....

gheckophobia

Can't wait to see Spirit of Qatar VS Miss Geico Team U.S.A. good fun.