A record-breaking 33 Southland high schools have entered student teams to build and race solar-powered boats in the third annual Solar Cup competition sponsored by Metropolitan Water District and its member public water agencies.

Solar Cup will be held May 13-15, 2005, at MWD's Lake Skinner, near Temecula, with the solar-powered boats competing in qualifying events and in speed and endurance races.

Teams will receive bundles of pre-cut marine plywood pieces which, when assembled, become 16-foot, single-seat shells. Teams must then equip their boats with drivetrains, electrical systems, solar-collection equipment and steering.

Boat-building workshops, where boat kits and toolboxes will be distributed and work will get under way, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 4 and 18, at Three Valleys Municipal Water District, 1021 E. Miramar Ave., Claremont.

"This is an impressive response to a sensational program," said Metropolitan board Chairman Phillip J. Pace. "Obviously word has spread about the hands-on lessons students learn in technology, stewardship of natural resources, problem-solving and sportsmanship."

Four years ago Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer Ronald R. Gastelum saw a solar boat competition in Arizona and suggested the district sponsor a similar event for high schools in its region.

"It's very rewarding to see this program grow to this size," Gastelum said, "but it's especially gratifying to see the ingenuity and pride these teenagers put into their boats, and the enhanced environmental awareness that they take away with them."

After Metropolitan's first solar competition in 2003 drew eight schools and the second year attracted 22, this year's has quadrupled the initial participation. Sponsoring water agencies provide each team with $3,000 to equip their boat and for related expenses. Metropolitan assumes the costs of several student workshops, the main events, administration and related costs.

"We're pleased that Canyon High of Anaheim, which won first-place trophies in 2003 and 2004, is returning to defend its title, as is Nogales High School of La Puente, which took first place in last year's newcomers' division," said Julie Miller, MWD education programs representative and Solar Cup manager. "Next spring, at the schools' request, there will be one division for newcomers and veterans alike."

Returning teams must enter a new boat, newly equipped. The one unsponsored team can use last year's boat, but can add no new equipment.

In next spring's competition,

-- Anaheim Public Utilities agency is sponsoring Anaheim High-Transportation Academy and Canyon High School;

-- Thousand Oaks-based Calleguas Municipal Water District is sponsoring Moorpark High School and the High School at Moorpark College;

-- Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, of El Monte, is sponsoring El Monte High School; Gabrielino High School, of San Gabriel; La Puente High School; Los Altos High School, of Hacienda Heights; and Monrovia High School;

-- Chino-based Inland Empire Utilities Agency, is sponsoring Chino Hills High School and Ayala High School, of Chino Hills;

-- Municipal Water District of Orange County is sponsoring Costa Mesa High School;

-- Central Basin Municipal Water District is sponsoring Schurr High School of Montebello;

-- Long Beach Water Department is supporting Long Beach Polytechnic High School;

-- Claremont-based Three Valleys Municipal Water District is sponsoring Faith Lutheran High School, of La Verne; Glendora High School; Pomona High School; San Dimas High School; Diamond Bar High School; Garey High School, Pomona; Nogales High School, La Puente; and Charter Oak High School, Covina;

-- Eastern Municipal Water District is sponsoring Chaparral High School, Temecula; Paloma Valley High School, Menifee; San Jacinto High School; and West Valley High School, Hemet; and

-- Riverside-based Western Municipal Water District is sponsoring Norco High School, while the city of San Fernando is sponsoring San Fernando High School.

In addition, sponsorship funds from the County of Riverside are sponsoring Calvary Christian School, Murietta; La Sierra High School, Riverside; and Murietta Valley High School.

Centennial High School of Riverside is self-sponsored.

And for the second year, El Centro-based Imperial Irrigation District, which is not part of Metropolitan's service area but partners with Metropolitan on water conservation and transfer programs, is sponsoring a team from Indio High School in conjunction with Rahus Institute, a solar-energy education agency.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.