Published: May 16, 2010
Boats from Canyon High School, Anaheim, and Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego, Capture Top Spots at Metropolitan Solar Cup
LAKE SKINNER, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Solar-powered boats built and raced by students from Canyon High School,
Anaheim, and Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego, today won the veteran
and newcomer divisions in the eighth annual Solar Cup competition
sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and
local water agencies.
The schools were among the 36 teams from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego,
Riverside and San Bernardino counties participating in the seven-month
program in which students build, equip and race the 16-foot, single-seat
canoes powered only by the sun. The three-day event is held at
Metropolitan's Lake Skinner reservoir in the Temecula Valley in
southwestern Riverside County.
"At the Solar Cup closing ceremonies, every one of the 700 participants
is awarded an Olympic-style medal because, in our eyes, they're all
winners," said Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger.
Assisting in the awards presentations were David De Jesus, Metropolitan
Water District director representing Three Valleys Municipal Water
District, based in Claremont; Allen Wu, director, Walnut Valley Water
District, based in Walnut; Luis Juarez, director, Three Valleys
Municipal Water District.
"Over the past seven months, and especially in the past three days,
they've learned a lot about water conservation and renewable resources,"
Kightlinger said, "and had practical, hands-on application of lessons
they had learned in textbooks."
Teams qualified their boats for the competition on Friday through
inspections and testing on land and water by Metropolitan staff and a
technical advisory team from Occidental College. Saturday, the teams
attached solar-collection panels to the boats for two, 90-minute
1.7-kilometer endurance races.
Today, the boats removed the heavy solar-collection panels and, using
solar energy stored in batteries, raced down a 200-meter stretch-like
drag racing on water.
The Solar Cup program began last November when Metropolitan's member
agencies announced their school sponsorships. Teams are sponsored by
their local water agencies and other organizations to equip the craft
with solar panels, batteries, steering and related systems.
Metropolitan provides each team with identical kits of marine-grade
plywood to build the hull. While all teams must build a new boat and
equip it, returning teams may use equipment from previous boats. Ten of
the 36 teams in this year's event were newcomers and 26 were veterans of
previous Solar Cups.
Following are the trophies and awards presented today. Complete Solar
Cup scores will be posted as soon as possible at Metropolitan's Web
site, mwdh2o.com.
Newcomer Teams, Cities, Sponsors and
Points:
First Place-Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego, San Diego County Water
Authority, Blue Chip Machine and Fabrication, 866.4
Second Place-Mountain View High School, Duarte, Upper San Gabriel Valley
Municipal Water District, 735.0
Third Place-I-Poly High School, Pomona, Three Valleys Municipal Water
District, City of Pomona, 678.1
Hottest-Looking Boat-Nuview Bridge Early College High School, Nuevo,
Eastern Municipal Water District
Veteran Teams, Cities, Sponsors and
Points:
First Place-Canyon High School, Anaheim, Anaheim Public Utilities, 978.5
Second Place-Savanna High School, Anaheim, Anaheim Public Utilities,
950.1
Third Place-Murrieta Mesa High School, Murrieta, Eastern Municipal Water
District, Rancho California Water District, 874.1
Hottest-Looking Boat- San Jacinto High School, San Jacinto, Eastern
Municipal Water District
Bart Beziak Memorial Spirit of Solar Cup Trophy
[sportsmanship]-Elsinore High School, Wildomar, Western Municipal Water
District, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District; "For their spirit
and overall positive attitude."
Teamwork Award- La Canada High School, La Canada Flintridge,
Foothill Municipal Water District, Valley Water Company; "Assisted
another team with transportation to and from May 1 technical inspection."
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Rob Hallwachs,
213-217-6450; 213-324-1255, mobile
Copyright © 2012, Business Wire, Inc., All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012, NewsBlaze,
Daily News
Search News
