Laguna students put solar-powered boats to the test
Laguna Beach High School placed 22nd out of 40 teams in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s 12th annual Solar Cup, according to a Laguna Beach Unified School District news release.
Students built and raced a 16-foot single-seat boat made from marine-grade plywood kits provided by the water district during the event, held May 16 through 18 at Lake Skinner in Riverside County.
The students, in grades nine through 12, equipped the boats with steering, a motor, batteries and solar panels, the release said. Laguna’s team earned second place for a video they created about their project.
The Laguna Beach County Water District sponsored Laguna’s team, which made its third Solar Cup appearance. This year’s event attracted 700 students from Southern California schools in six counties.
“The Solar Cup Challenge inspires innovation, creativity and collaboration as well as fostering self-confidence, communication and leadership,” Renae Hinchey, general manager of the Laguna Beach County Water District, said in the release. “Students experience the pride of accomplishment as well as the thrill of competition that comes with building and racing their solar-powered boat.”
School officials, parents and other community members supported the Solar Cup, a seven-month project, in a variety of ways, the release said.
Gina’s Pizza provided food to students during meetings, and Jim Busby, Keith Hickson and Steve Bounds from the Jim Busby Racing team in Laguna Canyon fabricated lightweight parts for the boat and offered technical assistance.
Victoria Skimboards founder Tex Haines held several weekend workshops on properly mixing and applying resin to seal the boat’s hull. Greg Morrell, a partner with management consulting company AgencyAgile, created an online tool so students could communicate with one another throughout the project.
Laguna Beach High physics teachers Jennifer Merritt and Parta Perkins also provided support for the students, the release said.