University of Arkansas Places Third in 2008 Solar Splash Competition

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The University of Arkansas boat rounds the corner during the endurance competition on June 21 at the 2008 Solar Splash World Championship.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas solar boat team won first place in the sprint competition and third place in the overall Solar Splash world championship. Cedarville University won first place in the overall competition for the second year in a row. The team from Istanbul Technical University traveled from Turkey to place second in the event.

“We are so proud of our team’s achievements,” said Roy McCann, associate professor in electrical engineering. “This year, our team designed and raced two boats that competed well against those from very strong schools that returned from last year.  We look forward to having even more successful runs in Solar Splash 2009.”

In its 15th year, Solar Splash is the world's only international, intercollegiate solar electric boat design and race competition. Thirteen teams, including the Instanbul team and one from Canada, competed in this year's event, which was held from Thursday, June 18, to Sunday, June 22, at Lake Fayetteville. This was the third consecutive year the University of Arkansas College of Engineering has hosted the event on Lake Fayetteville, and Solar Splash is scheduled to be held on the lake for the next three years.

Each team was responsible for designing its own boat and power system. Boats were scored on appearance, how well they were built and how well they operated, in addition to their performance on the lake. Each boat was required to operate on a combination of natural and stored solar power.

During the five-day event, teams participated in five on-the-water competitive events. On-site competitions also included visual displays and workmanship. On-the-water competition included qualifying boats in low- and high-speed configurations, a 300-meter-sprint, double-elimination event, and a four-hour endurance event. The Solar Slalom, another part of the on-the-water competition, involved a combination of speed and maneuverability.