Riverside's Norte Vista High School has the early lead in Metropolitan Water District's 16th annual Solar Cup, which launches at Lake Skinner.

Heading into racing competition, Norte Vista has the top preliminary score among the 38 teams from across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties that are competing in the three-day solar-powered boat competition at Metropolitan's southwest Riverside County reservoir. Teams will qualify on the water today before racing competition begins Saturday (May 19) and culminates Sunday (May 20).

Norte Vista's early lead is based on preliminary scores earned in the months leading up to this weekend, with the team notching 345 points out of 360. Many of those points came from Norte Vista's informative and light-hearted public service message, which offered fellow students tips on how to conserve water.

Under Solar Cup's public service message component, teams produced Snapchat-based videos and photo campaigns encouraging people to conserve water, based on this year's theme "Water conservation: it's not about the weather, it's about forever." In addition to the 230 points earned for its public service entry, Norte Vista earned high scores for two technical progress reports and meeting various deadlines.

"We have some great conservation-themed messages this year-these teams really took the water conservation message to heart and crafted creative, effective messages to share with their communities and encourage them to make conservation a way of life," said Solar Cup coordinator Julie Kalbacher, a state-certified teacher with Metropolitan's education programs. "Now, the fun on the water begins."

Closely trailing Norte Vista is Huntington Beach's Coast High School in second place, with 341 points. Burbank High School and Narbonne High School in Harbor City are tied for third place, each with 340 points. Costa Mesa High School is leading the pack of rookie teams.

The more than 600 students participating in this year's Solar Cup have been working after school and on weekends for months to build their boats, making them as fast and reliable as possible using the math and science they've learned in class and the engineering lessons they received during Metropolitan's boat-building workshops.

"Now they get to put all that hard work to a very fun test," Kalbacher said. "These kids are competing, but more than that, they're having fun, helping one another, and learning about engineering and natural resources."

The qualifying events will ensure boats are safe and seaworthy. The competition heats up the following day when the single-seat, 16-foot boats outfitted with solar-collection panels compete in endurance races around a 1.6-kilometer course in the morning and afternoon.

On day three, the boats' solar panels are removed and their energy-storing capabilities are put to the test as they compete in 200-meter sprint races powered by solar energy stored in batteries.

The races will be followed by an awards ceremony, with trophies awarded in veteran and rookie divisions for teams with the highest points, as well as to teams honored for "Hottest-Looking Boat," teamwork and sportsmanship.

Over the past 16 years, more than 10,000 students have participated in Solar Cup. The program began in 2002 with eight teams and about 80 students. In the years since, it has grown into the nation's largest solar-powered boat competition.

The competition allows students to apply their skills in math, physics, engineering and communications and learn more about Southern California's water sources and alternative energy development. It has inspired future engineers, water resource managers and conservationists, helping build the workforce needed to produce smart solutions to future environmental and water problems.

Teams are divided into four regions-the Foothill, Central & Bay, Inland Empire and South Counties regions. Solar Cup also includes a rookie division for first-time teams.

Solar Cup | mwdh2o.com