ADVISORY/Twenty-Two High School Teams Compete This Weekend in Solar Boat Competition at Lake Skinner; Teams in Your Area Are Testing Their Entries Now; Pre-Stories Available.

Science Writers/Education Writers

ADVISORY...for Friday through Sunday (May 21 through 23)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:     Teams of students from 22 Southland high schools to compete
          in solar-powered boat competition, the only event of its
          kind in California.

WHEN:     9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday, May 21-23.  Opening
          ceremony 9 a.m. Friday, May 21; awards ceremony 3:30 p.m.
          Sunday, May 23

WHERE:    Lake Skinner reservoir and recreation area, 33740 Borel
          Road, Winchester/Temecula; (Riverside County Thomas Guide
          pg. 929, G-4)

VISUALS:  B-roll available of students cutting, planning, hammering
          and sanding wood used to create the 16-foot hulls, as well
          as footage from last year's event

WHO:      High schools from Anaheim, Camarillo, Corona, Temecula,
          Glendora, Rancho Cucamonga, Pomona, Indio, Hacienda Heights,
          Moorpark, Murietta, La Puente, Menifee, Long Beach, San
          Dimas, San Jacinto, Moreno Valley, Hemet and Irvine.

BACKGROUND:
          Solar Cup is a three-day competition for public and private
          high school students throughout Southern California,
          sponsored by Metropolitan Water District and its member
          cities and water agencies.  Students build and compete
          16-foot, single-seat solar-powered boats in qualifying,
          endurance and speed events. About 500 students camping in
          adjoining student village; daily attendance expected to
          top 1,000.


                            Event Schedule

Friday, May 21--Qualifying Day

7:00 a.m.        Breakfast
8:00 a.m.        Registration opens
                 Re-inspection begins
                 On-the-water inspections begin
9:00             Qualifying begins
10:00            Kick off Pep Rally
12:00-2:00       Lunch
1:00             Qualifying continues
5:00             Qualifying ends
7:00             Dinner
8:00             Paddock closes

Saturday, May 22--Sprint Race Day!

7:00 a.m.        Paddock opens
7:00             Breakfast
7:30             Skippers meeting, trophy presentation for tech
                 reports
                 Morning heats depend on qualifying time on Friday.
                 Slowest boats will race first
8:30             Staging opens--Staging for heats will begin 30
                 minutes prior to heat!!!! If teams don't make
                 staging they don't race!!!!
9:15             Start of Sprint heat #1
9:30             Start of Sprint heat #2
9:45             Start of Sprint heat #3
10:00            Start of Sprint heat #4
10:15            Start of Sprint heat #5
10:30            Start of Sprint heat #6
10:45            Start of Sprint heat #7
11:00            Start of Sprint heat #8
11:00-1:00       Lunch
                 Afternoon heats are determined by actual time from
                 morning. Slowest boats race first!
12:15            Staging open--Staging for heats will begin 30 minutes
                 prior to heat!!!! If teams don't make staging they
                 don't race!!!!
1:00             Start of Sprint #9
1:15             Start of Sprint heat #10
1:30             Start of Sprint heat #11
1:45             Start of Sprint heat #12
2:00             Start of Sprint heat #13
2:15             Start of Sprint heat #14
2:30             Start of Sprint heat #15
2:45             Start of Sprint heat #16
3:30             Start of Sprint Championship
7:00             Dinner
8:00             Paddock closes


Sunday, May 23--Endurance Race Day

7:00 a.m.        Paddock opens
7:00             Breakfast
8:00             Skippers meeting
8:00             Staging opens--Endurance staging takes place one hour
                 prior to heat. If you fail to make staging, you
                 don't race!
9:30             Start of Endurance Heat #1--11 boats start
10:00            Start of Endurance Heat #2--11 boats start
11:00            End of Endurance Heat #1
11:30            End of Endurance Heat #2
11:00-1:30       Lunch
12:00            Staging opens--Endurance staging takes place one hour
                 prior to heat. If you fail to make staging, you don't
                 race!
1:00             Start of Endurance Heat #3--11 boats start
1:30             Start of Endurance Heat #4--11 boats start
2:30             End of Endurance Heat #3
3:00             End of Endurance Heat #4
3:30             Awards Ceremony