It's been a long journey, but the fleet of 10 Unlimited hydroplanes is almost to Doha, Qatar. The boats and their complete team transporters left Jacksonville, Florida on September 28. The teams will compete for the 2009 Oryx Cup UIM World Championship in Doha the weekend of November 19-21. Even though Ed Cooper's Go3 Racing Team will not compete for the World Championship, we'll be covering the race on this website the entire way. Stay with us for complete race details and pictures-----direct from Doha, Qatar.

Photos by Joe Roop

The freighter ship Hoegh Bangkok is scheduled to arrive in Doha some time mid week with it's precious cargo aboard. Once all the hydroplanes and team trucks are off loaded, they will be driven to a holding place until race weekend---now a little over three weeks away.

A member of the Ellstrom Elam Plus team will arrive in Doha Sunday or Monday this coming week and will help in the transfer of the teams from the Doha Port to the storage area.

The Go3 Racing Website Staff have our man in place in Doha, to bring you pictures from race weekend. Long time hydroplane fan and Go3 Racing fan, Joe Roop, will share his images of the first ever race in the Middle East. Joe is currently residing in Doha, a contractor for the Air Force, and persuing his passion for photography. He has Indiana roots, being born in Southern Indiana and is a long time fan of the Madison Regatta. He tells me growing up in "Indiana it's impossible not to be interested in racing." His favorite team is red, of course. You know that red boat that is loud and is called the Big Red Turbinator!

Our first assignment for Joe was to get us a few shots of Doha Bay. He tells us the Sheraton Hotel is the pyramid shaped building, and that's where turn two will be located on this 2 mile race course. Turn one will be by Oryx statute.

We'll share more of Joe's wonderful images of Doha in the next three weeks leading up to the UIM World Championship race in later this month.