Arkansas Wins Solar Boat Championship

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The University of Arkansas solar boat team took the title of world champions at Solar Splash 2006 Sunday.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas solar boat team took the title of world champions at Solar Splash 2006 Sunday.

This is the second time the Arkansas team has carried home the championship, but the first time in the 13-year history of the intercollegiate solar boat competition that the team has raced on home turf. Solar Splash was held June 21-25 at Lake Fayetteville.

In 2002, the University of Arkansas solar boat team was named world champion at Solar Splash. In the past two years of competition, the team has finished second place overall.

Fifteen teams from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico competed over a four-day period in areas such as speed and endurance. Cedarville University of Ohio finished second in the competition, with the U.S. Naval Academy team finishing third.

“We were very happy with the championship title, but we were most proud to co-host such a successful event with the city of Fayetteville,” said Alan Mantooth, UA electrical engineering professor and one of the advisers for the team. “The students from all the teams had a good time, and the people from the community who came out to watch really responded well.”

Each boat was required to operate on a combination of natural and stored solar power. UA mechanical and electrical engineering students worked together to build Arkansas’ competition boat and prepare it for competition. This year, the Arkansas boat had a new design, which helped with both speed and endurance, team co-captain Zac Pianalto said. Pianalto graduated in May with a degree in mechanical engineering.

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 the boat in both the low speed and high speed configurations, a 300 meter sprint double elimination event, and a 4 hour endurance event. The Solar Slalom, another part of the on-the-water competition, involved a combination of speed and maneuverability.  The final point totals that determined the top three finishers were not decided until the last 300-meter sprint heat on Sunday. Arkansas also finished first in that heat.