First Look: Qatar Turbine Mystic In Sarasota

Named after the theme of Qatar National Day, Al Adaa’am 96 arrived in Sarasota, Fla., yesterday for the Super Boat International Super Boat Suncoast Grand Prix Festival. Qatar’s Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and British throttleman Steve Curtis plan to test the boat on the water today for the first time, and race the boat tomorrow.

Qatar's new turbine-powered Mystic catamaran is scheduled to hit the water today.

Qatar’s new turbine-powered Mystic catamaran is scheduled to hit the water today.

“I had not seen the boat in its final trim until it arrived here in Sarasota,” said Sheikh Hassan in a press release from the Qatar Marine Sports Federation. “It had always been covered while the crew was getting it prepared. It is definitely an awesome sight, especially after we have waited all this time. The crew now have something that they can all be very proud of.”

Built by Mystic Powerboats of DeLand, Fla, the 50-footer is powered by twin 1,500 T-53 engines from Whispering Turbines in Hamilton, Mont. Top speed is estimated to be 200 mph. A second set of 3,000-hp of T-55 engines, which will be used for special events, has been prepared for the cat.

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