Spirit of Qatar Wins Superboat Unlimited World Title in Key West

KEY WEST, Fla. — Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis piloted Spirit of Qatar to the Superboat Unlimited Class title Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Key West World Championship offshore powerboat races.

Al-Thani, of Doha, Qatar, and England's Curtis took first in the final race after posting second-place finishes during preliminary races Wednesday and Friday.

"The waves at turns 1 and 2 were just nightmares," Al-Thani said of the rough, windswept 6.2-mile course. "Steve knew exactly how to balance the boat to get it on top of the waves and just keep it running instead of losing speed going airborne."

Favorite Gasse, driven by Norwegian Tor Staubo and throttled by North Miami's Johnny Tomlinson, lost steering after a hydraulic line came loose. They returned to the wet pits and tried unsuccessfully to repair the problem.

"It never fails," said Tomlinson, of North Miami. "A $10 part always takes you out of a million-dollar program."

Tomlinson, 50, has won 41 national and world offshore powerboat racing titles.

Instigator, with Peter Meyer of Port Washington, N.Y., and John Stanch of Westmore, N.J., at the controls, won a Superboat Extreme Class championship.

"The odds of us winning today were slim to none," Meyer said. "We were in third place overall and it was almost impossible for us to win today, but we continued battling."

Maritimo, with Australian racers Ross Willaton and Peter McGrath, won a championship in the Superboat Class while Aqua-Mania, piloted by Rick Merola of Brewerton, N.Y., and Gregg Rosen of Wellesley Island, N.Y., captured the title in the Turbine Class.

There were no fatalities or serious injuries at this year's competition after three people died at the 2011 championship.

2012 Key West World Championship Winners
Class: Boat Name, Owner or Driver's Name, Hometown

Superboat Unlimited: Spirit of Qatar, Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani, Doha, Qatar
Superboat Extreme: Instigator, Peter Meyer, Port Washington, N.Y.
Turbine: Aqua-Mania, Rick Merola, Brewerton, N.Y.
Superboat: Maritimo, Ross Willaton, Willow Vale, Australia
Superboat Vee Limited: Snowy Mountain Brewery, Brian Forehand, Greenville, N.C.
Superboat Stock: Blacksand, Gary Ballough, Boca Raton, Fla.
Manufacturer 3: Team Kilt, Tony Canale, Buford, Ga.
Manufacturer 4: Rum Runners, Bobbie Kieber, Big Pine Key, Fla.