Elsinore, Lakeside Students to Participate Annual Solar-Powered Boat Races

By City News Service:

WINCHESTER, CA - Students from 38 Southern California high schools will be low-speed racing on the waters of Lake Skinner near Winchester this weekend, in a contest requiring competitors to power their rigs using nothing but energy from the sun.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's 14th annual Solar Cup Competition will feature teams from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

"Solar Cup gives students an opportunity to take concepts they've learned in the classroom and apply them in a practical way focused on conservation and alternative energy development," said Solar Cup coordinator Julie Miller. "That experience often fosters a life-long interest in science, math, engineering, renewable energy, resource management and the environment, leading students into careers in which they may not have otherwise been interested."

Practice runs for the event will be held Friday. According to MWD officials, a technical advisory team will be inspecting contestants' 16-foot plywood skiffs to ensure maneuverability and safety. Each boat is outfitted with solar-collection panels that supply the electricity needed to power it.

Riverside County schools entered in the competition are:

• Hemet Unified School District team
• Perris Union High School, Menifee;o
• Nuview Bridge High School, Nuevo
• Norte Vista High School, Riverside
• Polytechnic High School, Riverside
• Elsinore High School, Wildomar
• Lakeside High School, Wildomar

Students have spent the last seven months readying their hand-built crafts, which are constructed from kits consisting of batteries, drive trains, electrical systems, propellers, rudders and the solar panels.

On Saturday, the single-person skiffs will hit the water, motoring through 1-mile endurance races. On Sunday, 200-meter sprint races are planned.

Access to the lakeshore is free.

An awards ceremony is scheduled after the last race Sunday, with trophies going to teams that racked up the highest points for performance, meeting technical standards and producing a public service announcement emphasizing the need for water conservation.

Awards will be bestowed on standouts in the "veteran" and "rookie" divisions, as well as for teamwork, sportsmanship and the "hottest-looking boat," according to the MWD.

Since 2002, more than 10,000 students have taken part in the solar boat races.

More information is available at http://www.mwdh2o.com/inthecommunity/education-programs/Pages/Solar-Cup.aspx .

(Patch file photo)