LOS ANGELES - Teams of students at 30 Southland high schools are getting their boats shipshape for this weekend's Solar Cup competition on Lake Skinner, near Temecula, sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District and its member water agencies.

Since January, some 450 students have been busy building and outfitting solar-powered boats for the third-annual competition, which is open to the public free of charge beginning this Friday, May 13. Lake Skinner is 10 miles north of Interstate 15 on Rancho California Road.

Teams are participating from schools in Anaheim, Chino Hills, Corona, Costa Mesa, Covina, Diamond Bar, El Monte, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Hemet, Indio, La Puente, La Verne, Long Beach, Menifee, Moorpark, Murietta, Norco, Pomona, Riverside, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Jacinto and Temecula.

Friday's events will be qualifying rounds. On Saturday, May 14, the boats will run 200-meter sprints using solar energy stored in batteries. Sunday, May 15, solar panels will be attached and the boats will run 90-minute endurance races around a 2-kilometer course, followed by an awards ceremony.

The team that accumulates the highest cumulative score from the competitions, a visual display, and written technical reports will capture first place. Canyon High School of Anaheim Hills is returning as the two-time defending champion.

Metropolitan Chairman Wes Bannister, one of four directors who represent the Municipal Water District of Orange County on Metropolitan's board, is an enthusiastic Solar Cup booster.

"Solar Cup is one of my favorite programs," Bannister said, "because in addition to involving the students with electrical and mechanical engineering, alternate energy, water-supply and environmental issues, it's really great fun."

Metropolitan provides each team with a tool chest and a kit of pre-cut marine plywood with which they build their boat, hosts several technical workshops, and sponsors the main event. The sponsoring water agencies provide each team with $3,000 to equip their boat with solar panels, batteries, steering and other necessities.

"Solar Cup has exploded from eight teams the first year to 22 last year and 30 this year," said Julie Miller, Solar Cup manager and a certified teacher who is a member of Metropolitan's Education Programs team. "It's popular because it's a fantastic way for kids to learn all sorts of electrical, engineering, physics and water-related lessons while having a great time."

"This year, we're also requiring that teams create a visual display on the possible application of solar power to a local or global water issue," Miller said. "This is the United Nations' International Decade of Water, and this aspect of the program helps the students think globally."

The single-seat Solar Cup boats are 16 feet long and weigh about 50 pounds when empty. When fully outfitted with solar panels (boats generally use four rectangular panels, each about 2-by-4 feet), batteries, electrical, steering and other systems, the boats weigh around 320 pounds. With a skipper, the maximum boat weight allowed is 451 pounds.

Skippers must pass a Red Cross swim test, but are also required to wear life vests when on the water. In addition, each boat must be equipped with a safety cord attached to the life vest; should the cord become disconnected while the motor is running, the motor is automatically shut off. Safety/rescue boats also are on the water during the competitions.

For additional information on Solar Cup 2005, go to Education Programs at Metropolitan's Web site, www.mwdh2o.com.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

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