Solar-Powered Boats to Set Sail at Lake Skinner

Four schools in Riverside County have been working to make their Solar Cup boat vision into a reality.

They are scheduled to compete on May 18-20 at Lake Skinner outside Temecula.

Marking the 10-year anniversary for Solar Cup, Western Municipal Water District is the proud sponsor of the Centennial, Elsinore, Jurupa Valley and Riverside County high school teams.

This seven-month Metropolitan Water District competition between 41 schools throughout Southern California gives high school students the opportunity to build a solar-powered boat and race it at Lake Skinner during a final competition in May.

Since 2002, Western’s team sponsorships have provided schools with financial support to build their boats, in addition to professional advice and resources as needed.

“The Solar Cup competition teaches students the value of our water resources, teamwork, innovation and alternative energy sources,” said Paul Rugge, assistant general manager/COO. “One of the extraordinary aspects about the competition is that each of the teams has students with varying knowledge in the solar boat- building process.”

Each of Western’s teams has been hard at work and while every boat may look similar in style, each one is unique in how the students have chosen to build the interior workings. From the motor to the solar cells to the rudder, each boat is an example of student ingenuity. Throughout the process, students submit various reports and projects, which are all a component of earning points throughout the competition.

Interesting facts about each of Western’s sponsored teams:

1. Centennial High School is using solar panels made in Russia. The panels are mounted to Teklam, an aluminum honeycomb structure covered with carbon fiber on both sides. Teklam looks like cardboard-covered with carbon fiber sheeting.

2. Elsinore High School’s solar boat has been built solely by students with learning disabilities. They have successfully interpreted the boat manuals and used their strong tactile learning modality to complete a physics level working craft. This is their fourth year participating.

3. Jurupa Valley High School has competed in four Solar Cup competitions. Their boats from previous years are proudly on display hanging from the ceiling in the school library.

4. Riverside County High School (Jurupa Campus) is Western’s rookie team and excited to be participating in the Solar Cup competition for the first time. The team is unique in that it’s made up of ‘at risk’ students.

Western has partnered with Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, city of Corona Department of Water and Power and Jurupa Community Services District to cosponsor this year’s teams. This year’s Solar Cup event will take place from May 18-20.

Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.

-- By Lynne Dixon, spokesperson for the Western Municipal Water District