Qatar Team Turbine Cat Debut Planned for SBI Cocoa Beach Race

Offshore racing fans will most likely get their first look at Qatar’s new Turbine-class Mystic Powerboats catamaran at the upcoming Super Boat International event May 17-19 in Cocoa Beach, Fla., according to a press release from the Qatar Marine Sports Federation. As previously reported on speednthewater.com, Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani will drive the 50-foot cat with offshore racing veteran Steve Curtis handling the throttles.

Sheikh Hassan (left) and Steve Curtis (right) plan to debut the team’s new turbine-powered 50-foot Mystic cat at the SBI’s Cocoa Beach event later this month.

According to the press release, Sheikh Hassan and Curtis will begin on-water testing of the 50-footer, which is powered by twin 1,600-hp engines from Whispering Turbines, on May 5. The program calls for five days of testing and dial-in prior to the boat’s planned Cocoa Beach race debut.

“Our target is to dial the boat in during the year as our test session will be short,” said Sheikh Hassan in the release. “The main target will be the World Championship at Key West later in the season.”

To run its Superboat-class entry, a 42-foot Marine Technology, Inc., that formerly ran as Reliable Carriers, the team has selected Qataris Mohammed Al-Nasser and Ali Al-Neam to man the cockpit.

Related Story: Qatar To Run Former Reliable Carriers Cat in Superboat Class