Laguna students fare well in Solar Cup challenge

A team of Laguna Beach High students placed second in two divisions in the 13th annual Solar Cup competition last month, according to a news release.

Students in grades 9 through 12 finished second in the sprint race category and second in the endurance race May 17-19 at Lake Skinner in Winchester. Laguna Beach High physics teacher was the team’s faculty advisor.

Students spent the last seven months designing and building a 16-foot-long wooden boat that featured an aluminum motor mount and solar panels that produced up to 300 watts, the release said.

This year the students invested in new lightweight solar panels that reduced the boat’s total weight by 25 pounds. The competition involved a mix of technical inspections, qualifying runs, racing and overnight camping.

The Laguna Beach County Water District sponsored this year’s team.

“Each year we continue to be impressed with the talent, dedication and drive [Laguna Beach High] Solar Club students bring to the competition,” water district General Manager Renae Hinchey said in the release. “The team invested significant time and energy after school and on weekends to complete their solar boat entry.”

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California sponsored the 41-team event that drew 1,000 Southern California high school students.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce