Solar-Powered Boats Go Head-to-Head

Students from 40 Southern California high schools will be low-speed racing on the waters of Lake Skinner this weekend.

The ninth-annual Solar Cup competition is set to run from Saturday morning to Sunday.

The competition requires students to power their crafts using nothing but solar energy. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California sponsors the event.   

Water district officials will be inspecting contestants' boats to ensure maneuverability and safety during practice runs throughout the day Friday.  

Teams from schools in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties are participating in this year's event, according to water district officials.

and schools are registered to compete. Murrieta Mesa High School, in Murrieta is also scheduled to compete.

Students spent the last seven months readying their boats, composing technical reports and putting together a water-conservation presentation -- all of which will be judged and awarded points in the competition.   

“The Solar Cup program is truly a story of hard work, determination, teamwork and intellect,” said Solar Cup coordinator Julie Miller. “What also is inspiring is the camaraderie. Even though high school teams are competing against one another, they will also pitch in to help each other.”

The single-person skiffs will hit the water, deploying solar-collection panels to motor through a 1-mile endurance race on Saturday.

The 200-meter sprint races are planned for Sunday with the boaters relying on batteries charged by absorbed sunlight to power their crafts, according to the water district.

An awards ceremony is scheduled after the last races Sunday, during which trophies in the “veteran” and “newcomer” divisions will be handed out, as well as awards for teamwork, sportsmanship and the “hottest-looking boat,” according to the water district. This year's defending champion is Canyon High School of Anaheim.

Since 2002, 7,500 students have participated in the solar boat races, water district officials said.