|
:Anaheim team wins SoCal Solar Boat Race for 2nd Year source: press release 2004.5.23
Nogales High School (La Puente), Charter Oak High School (Glendora) and Los Altos Academy of Engineering (Hacienda Heights) finished first, second and third in the newcomers division. Glendora High School, sponsored by Three Valleys Municipal Water, took second place, and Long Beach Polytechnic High School, sponsored by the Long Beach Water Department, placed third. The teams were scored on their performance speed racing down a 200-meter course with solar energy stored in batteries; on their endurance in a 90-minute event around a 2-kilometer course with solar panels attached; and on written, graphic and verbal reports on the construction of their boats. Ryan Bogner, a member of the Long Beach team, received the competition’s first Bart Bezyack Spirit of Solar Cup Award, named after an Anaheim youth who was a member of the winning 2003 team and, after that team’s teacher/advisor retired, convinced fellow students to enter the 2004 competition and was an enthusiastic member of the team before he, himself, died several months ago of leukemia. Bogner, who will attend CalTech upon graduation from Long Beach Poly, accepted the award from Nancy Bezyack, Bart’s mother, to tumultuous applause from an estimated 500 students and spectators. “Being out here and sharing this experience with all of you has been excellent,” Bogner said. Design achievement awards for some of the creative and unique electrical and mechanical inventions installed in the identical, 16-foot single-seat wooden hulls went to San Jacinto, Pomona Catholic, Chaparral (Temecula) and San Dimas high schools. Murietta Valley High School received the award for outstanding system design. West Valley High School (Hemet) was honored for outstanding solar system design, and Garey High School (Pomona) for outstanding electric system design. Chaparral won for outstanding drive-train design, Paloma High (Menifee) for sportsmanship, and Moorpark and Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga) for the best-looking boats. Centennial High (Corona) won for having the most ingenious design, Indio high school for perseverance, and San Jacinto for competing despite the greatest odds. Garey, whose boat had capsized on a turn in windy weather, was honored for best comeback.
-------------------------- Solar-powered boats compete in heated race By: REBECCA JAMESCOURIE - For The Californian 2004.5.22 TEMECULA ---- Gently cutting through the glassy lake, three solar-powered boats hummed through the water, barely leaving a wake as they raced toward the finish line. The "sprint heat" was one of three contests 22 solar-powered boats entered during the Metropolitan Water District Solar Cup competition at Lake Skinner on Saturday. Ending today, the competition started Friday with opening ceremonies, followed by qualifying events. Saturday, the boats raced 200 meters for best time, and today, the boats will compete in a 90-minute endurance race around a two-kilometer course. Each team was also judged on reports they submitted to the MWD that explained how they made their crafts. Julie Miller, MWD spokesperson and chairperson for the second annual event, said racing solar boats on Lake Skinner made sense since the lake is a main source for potable water. "It also offers examples of creative ways we can protect our natural resources," she said. "Besides, this is a fun event ---- the word has gotten out, and this year, we've doubled in size with a waiting list already started for next year." Under large tents, teams set up shop and tinkered on their 16-foot-long boats, which bore the name of the water agency that sponsored it. Large solar panels basked in the sun ---- recharging the batteries ---- as young yachtsmen recharged their energy with food and sodas. Each team was given $3,000, pieces of a hull and a two-inch thick manual to help build their craft. Some teams were still making last-minute modifications. Nick Larsen bent over the hull of his boat, setting up the main drive shaft for electrical steering. Larsen worked as crew chief with his son, Joshua, 16, and the other five members of the Chaparral High School team. Their boat was one of five that didn't qualify Friday. "We didn't have everything ready to go," he said, tightening a screw. "It was tough to get these kids together after school with all their other activities. But, the officials told us we could still race ---- just not place." Chuck Murphy, faculty advisor for Paloma Valley High School, said their boat was doing well. "Everything's working good so far," said Murphy, whose team took 350 hours to complete the boat it started building in January. "These kids have a great attitude and great talent. They really made it happen." Team member Cristina Bonnici, 17, said it was an interesting experience for her. "I learned a lot about the electrical system," she said, nodding toward the boat nestled in its trailer. "It was a lot of hard work, too." Flanking the boat, "Short Circuit," was a photo display of each step the team from Murrieta Valley High School took in making its craft. Engineering teacher Pete Matus said it took close to 100 hours after school to complete their task. Team member Chad Hardin, 17, said they didn't know what to expect. "It sounded fun, but we didn't realize how involved it would be," he said, nodding toward the boat. "Once we had a direction to go in, it was nonstop." Readying themselves for the next heat, the teams slowly maneuvered boat-laden trailers down the ramp, easing their craft into the lake. Grabbing a paddle, the "skipper" slid into the single seat and paddled toward the starting line ---- which was actually a rope suspended from two wooden poles. From the deck, parents and teachers barked out orders to the young mariners jockeying their boats into position and grabbing the rope marker to pull themselves into place. Unlike the familiar roar of a speedboat, the solar-driven crafts jutted forward and gently hummed across 200 meters, their top speed coming in at 13 knots or 15 miles per hour. Team mates cheered as they watched their skippers maneuver in the roped-off lanes. "You know, we learned more than just how to build a boat," said Chad. "We learned how to work together. We learned how to be a team." Solar Cup Competition
Where: 33740 Borel Road, Temecula Cost: Free Sunday Activities: 9:30 to11:30 a.m. ---- Endurance Races 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ---- Lunch 1 to 3 p.m. ---- Endurance Races 3:30 p.m. ---- Awards Ceremony ------------------------- It's sink or swim for students' boats EVENT: Inland area groups are among those set to race sun-powered vessels at Lake Skinner. By KARIE ALLEN / The Press-Enterprise 2004.5.21 LAKE SKINNER - It was a race against the clock Friday as students made last-minute adjustments to their solar-powered vessels. "It's like qualifying day at the Indy 500," said Metropolitan Water District spokesman Bob Muir. "The teams are working feverishly to find innovative ways of shedding weight from their boats." Groups of students from 22 schools in Riverside, San Bernardino,
San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties gathered at
Lake Skinner for the second annual Solar Cup competition. The competition, sponsored by the MWD, is a three-day event in which students race handmade, solar-powered boats. It teaches students about water quality, alternative fuels and energy efficiency. On Friday, many of the boats were having difficulty passing inspection, a necessary component to participate in the sprint and endurance races set for today and Sunday. "Teams are coming in overweight. They can't be more than 451 pounds," said Julie Miller, another MWD representative. "They have to pass to get on the water." The team from Valley View High School in Moreno Valley that participated in last year's event struggled to shed 40 pounds from its boat. "We're baffled," said Jason Neiswonger, 18. "Last
year we were the second-lightest boat and we only added a new motor,
a controller and put on a new titanium shaft." David Susuras, team adviser for Valley View, said that after the team finally passed its inspection, the boat blew out a battery on the water. "We would have had the second-fastest qualifying time," he said. "I'm going to run to Hemet tonight to get a new one." Valley View wasn't the only team experiencing difficulties. Garey High School from Pomona raised the solar panels on its boat to capture more rays, but it was too top-heavy and the boat capsized. Paloma Valley High School in Menifee experienced problems last year, but passed inspection with flying colors this year. "What killed us last year was time and inexperience," said team adviser Charles Murphy. "But this year they had fresh ideas, positive attitudes and more experience." Murphy said he was especially proud of the team members because they worked on the boat without access to an auto shop, woodshop or metal shop, unlike some other schools. "We worked out of a barn," Murphy said. "But we are real happy with how it is going so far." Reach Karie Allen at (909) 567-2403 or kallen@pe.com ----------------------------- Sun power buoys hopes LAKE SKINNER: The Metropolitan Water District Solar Cup propels skippers from 22 teams. 10:01 PM PDT on Saturday, May 22, 2004 By JAMIE AYALA / The Press-Enterprise 2004.5.22 COME CHEER What: Inland high schools, including Murrieta Valley, Chaparral, West Valley, San Jacinto, Paloma Valley, Indio, Valley View, Centennial and Etiwanda, are all participating in the Solar Cup. When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today Where: Lake Skinner at 33740 Borel Road in Temecula Cost: Free LAKE SKINNER - Make sure the key is turned to on. Start out slow. And don't forget the walkie-talkie is a friend. Team members hoped last-minute advice to skippers of solar-powered canoes would buoy speed in 200-meter sprint races held on the lake Saturday. The second annual Solar Cup competition, sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and its member cities and water agencies, continues today with endurance races. Twenty-two high school teams from Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties spent the weekend camping at Lake Skinner to participate. "Out here we learn about everything under the sun like electricity and energy," said Bret Hanggie, 16, of Murrieta Valley High School. His teammate, Elise Iverson, 16, said she was nervous as she maneuvered the student-constructed boat during the first heat. "I expected to throw it into high gear, but I had to pull
back," she said of the challenge she had pushing and pulling
a lever, which in turn controlled the motors. The Murrieta team was among the last teams, but Elise said that was OK because their boat dubbed "short circuit" was configured more for the endurance race. Each race included three teams. After hearing the word "go," the canoes glided forward. Some drivers veered off-course and had to be towed in, while others buzzed to the finish line with ease. Back at shore, they were greeted with cheers, handshakes or inquiries of what went wrong. In between races, team members strategized, repaired boats and replaced batteries hooked to solar panels. On Saturday a handful of Chaparral students circled around a boat called Hydromo like surgeons. One disconnected a battery. Another bound loose wires together. Still another sniffed around the boat trying to pinpoint a shortage. "Applying what we learn at school makes the knowledge more real," said Joshua Larsen, 16, whose Chaparral team was participating in the event for the first time. "It's surprising how some of the rookie team are so competitive," said Julie Miller, project manager, of the 14 teams that joined this year's event. "We could have an upset this year." But one thing is for sure. With 45 trophies in various categories, nearly every team will be a winner, she said. Reach Jamie Ayala at (909) 375-3728 or jayala@pe.com --------- Poly High takes sun-power bronze
And Ryan Bognercq, the Poly team leader who said he is going to Cal Tech after graduation, took home the Bart Bezyackcq Spirit of Solar Cup Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding student, said Rob Hallwachscq of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the event's sponsor. The award was named after a student from first-place Canyon High School in Anaheim, who convinced his fellow students to carry on after their teacher retired. Bezyack himself died of leukemia earlier this year, Hallwachs said. ``Being out here and sharing this experience with everyone has been excellent,'' Bogner said upon receiving the award from Bezyack's mother, Nancy Bezyack. Poly also came in behind Glendora High School, which took second place in the overall competition. Poly took third place in the 200-meter sprint, following Canyon High in first place and Nogales High School from La Puente in second. Poly received a $3,000 grant from the Long Beach Water Department,
which theywas used to buy three solar panels for the boat.
Other Links Bonita High School Project Images http://www.bonita.k12.ca.us/sandimas/elliott/solarcup04/solarcup04.html World Championship College event - June 16-20 New York Solar Splash 2 California teams to compete (Cal Poly Pomona & Long Beach Poly HS)  |
TEMECULA
-- A student team from Canyon High School of Anaheim, sponsored
by Anaheim Public Utilities, took first place today in the three-day
Solar Cup competition sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District
of Southern California at Lake Skinner near Temecula. Teams from
22 high schools throughout the region have been working since December
to build and equip solar-powered boats for the second-annual event,
the only one of its kind in California.
