Reporter staff

It might not be summer here north of the equator, but in the southern hemisphere the sun is shining and soon, the hydros will be running.

Usually a hallmark summer event in the Pacific Northwest, the American Boat Racing Association Unlimited Hydroplanes will complete its final race of the season – The Oryx Cup in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 19-21.

Ten boats, including the U-16 Ellstrom Elam Plus, piloted by Auburn’s Dave Villwock, recently left Jacksonville, Fla., on cargo ships bound for the Middle East.

“We are so honored to be making this trip and crowning our series champion in a country that we want to become the international capital of our sport,” said ABRA Chairman Sam Cole. “Sheikh Hassan Al-Thani and the Qatar Marine Sports Federation have shown a great deal of confidence in our sport by hosting this event. We are looking forward to very competitive racing in a world-class location. We have had a great season of competitive racing with three different race champions, and now we are taking these boats to Qatar.

“These fans absolutely love boat racing and now we have the opportunity to showcase the fastest race boats to the Middle East for the first time.”

On Nov. 5, the boats were unloaded in Kuwait, where they spent a week awaiting clearance in customs. On Monday, the boats were reunited with crews and drivers, who began race preparations.

“This is a massive undertaking, but it is not unlike the days when teams prepared to race in Hawaii,” Cole said. “It is truly another world-class destination for our race teams, but it is 7,500 miles farther than going to Honolulu.”

The Oryx Cup will be streamed live at www.abrahydroplanes.com.

In addition, the Hydroplane and Raceboat Musuem at 5917 S. 196th St. in Kent, will host a slumber party to view the streamed event beginning at 11 p.m. Nov. 20.

“We will take the feed from online and project it onto the big screen, so fans can come and watch it together,” said David Williams, executive director of the Museum. “This race, due to the 11-hour time difference, doesn’t begin until just after midnight on Friday (Nov. 20). So we decided that this monumental event demanded a slumber party, where fans can come down and spend the night watching history being made.“

The event will cost $10 per person, $15 per couple and $6 for kids younger than 12. Tickets are available by calling the museum at 206-764-9453 or at the door. For more information, visit www.thunderboats.org.

“This is going to be fun,” Cole said. “It will be a new, exciting experience for the teams and the fans.”

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American Boat Racing Association Fleet for Doha Oryx Cup

Boat: U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto; Driver/hometown: Steve David, Lighthouse Point, Fla.; Home port/owner: City of Madison, Ind.

Boat: U-5 Formulaboats.com; Driver/hometown: Jeff Bernard, Kent; Home port/owner: Ted Porter Family, Decatur, Ind.

Boat: U-7 Graham Trucking; Driver/hometown: J. Michael Kelly, Puyallup; Home port/owner: Ted Porter Family, Decatur, Ind.

Boat: U-16 Ellstrom Elam Plus; Driver/hometown: Dave Villwock, Auburn; Home port/owner: Erick Ellstrom, Seattle

Boat: U-17 actiVwater; Driver/hometown: Kip Brown, Maple Valley; Home port/owner: Nate Brown. Preston

Boat: U-22 Matrix Systems; Driver/hometown: Mike Webster, Reading, Pa.; Home port/owner: Steve and Sue Webster, Reading, Pa.

Boat: U-25 Superior Racing; Driver/hometown: Dr. Ken Muscatel, Seattle; Home port/owner: Muscatel, Seattle

Boat: U-37 Renton Coil Spring; Driver/hometown: Jean Theoret, Maple Grove, Quebec; Home port/owner: Billy and Jane Schumacher, Seattle

Boat: U-48 Albert Lee; Driver/hometown: Brian Perkins, Black Diamond; Home port/owner: Greg and Brian O’Farrell, Maple Valley

Boat: U-100 Mirageboats.com; Driver/hometown: Greg Hopp, Snohomish; Home port/owner: Fred Leland Kirkland