Solar-powered boats built by SoCal students to race at Lake Skinner this weekend

Hundreds of students across SoCal have spent months designing, building and testing out solar-powered boats.

This weekend, 42 high school teams will meet up to see who did the best as part of the 9^th annual Solar Cup at Lake Skinner. On May 13-15, 42 schools and about 800 students will take to the water.

(Courtesy Photo)

The event started in 2002 with eight high schools and 100 students. The event has grown in popularity and now area water districts sponsor the construction of the boats.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California gives each new team $4,000 or returning teams $2,500 to build boats.

On Friday, schools must compete in qualifies. Saturday is the endurance run and it ends on Sunday with sprint races.

Area high school teams this year include: Elsinore High School, Murrieta Mesa, San Jacinto High School, Great Oak, Chaparral and West Valley.

For more information visit Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.