California Solar Regatta

Registration for the 2023 California Solar Regatta is now closed.

The event will take place on Friday, May 5, 2023 (high schools) and Saturday, May 6, 2023 (colleges and universities).

An exciting two days of teamwork, competition and discovery takes place every year at our Rancho Seco Recreational Area.

SMUD’s fun, educational competition is open to all high schools, colleges and universities in California.

Working together in teams, students design, build and race their own solar powered boats. They are judged for speed, distance, maneuverability and more. Students get hands-on, out-of-the-classroom experience with renewable energy and engineering.

Do you have questions? We’re here to help.

Contact Kaelin Sherrel, Community Education & Technology Center

View the event packet

Download school flyer Download event flyer

2022 Solar Regatta winners and participants

Arcadia High School
Ceres High School
Country Day School
Florin High School
Grant High School
John F. Kennedy High School
Laguna Creek High School
Merlo Academy High School
Rancho Cordova High School
School of Engineering and Sciences

May 14 – College category

Solar Regatta Cup Winner - San Francisco City College

Artistic - San Francisco City College
Best Drive Train - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Best Video - San Francisco City College
Endurance - San Francisco City College
Leading by Example - California State University Chico
Presentation - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Slalom - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Speed - San Joaquin Delta College
Sustainability - Sonoma State University
Technical - San Francisco City College

Participating colleges:

Bakersfield College
California State University Chico
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Chabot College
San Joaquin Delta College
California State University, Maritime Academy
Ohlone College (no show)
San Francisco City College
Skyline College
Sonoma State University

2019 Solar Regatta winners and participants

May 3 – Prep category

Regatta Cup Winner- Laguna Creek High School

Artistic - Leonardo Da Vinci
Best Drive Train - Boy Scouts
Best Video - School of Engineering and Sciences
Endurance - Arcadia High School
Leading by Example - 16 Pasteur Middle School
Presentation - Folsom High School
Slalom - Laguna Creek High School
Speed - Leonardo Da Vinci
Sustainability - School of Engineering and Sciences
Technical - Arcadia High School

May 4 – College category

Regatta Cup Winner - San Francisco City College

Artistic - Humboldt State University
Best Drive Train-San Francisco City College
Best Video - San Francisco City College
Endurance - Cosumnes River College
Leading by Example - Ohlone Community College (#4 Sonoma State University and #9 Laguna Creek High School also)
Presentation - San Francisco City College
Slalom - Cosumnes River College
Speed - San Francisco City College
Sustainability - San Francisco City College
Technical - Ohlone Community College

2018 Solar Regatta winners and participants

May 4 – Prep category

Regatta Cup Winner – Arcadia High School

Artistic – Arcadia High School
Best Design, Drive Train – Ceres High School
Best Video – Pasteur Middle School
Boat Design – Ceres High School
Endurance – Laguna Creek High School
Judges Choice – Granite Bay High School
Leading by Example – Pasteur Middle School
Presentation – Granite Bay High School
Slalom – Boy Scout Troop 55
Speed – Boy Scout Troop 55
Spirit Award – School of Engineering and Sciences
Sustainability – BSA Boaters
Technical – Arcadia High School

May 5 – College category

Regatta Cup Winner – San Francisco City College

Artistic – UC Davis
Best Design, Drive Train – College of the Sequoias
Best Video – San Francisco City College
Boat Design – UC Davis
Endurance – College of the Sequoias
Judges Choice – Contra Costa College
Presentation – San Francisco City College
Slalom – San Francisco City College
Speed – Cosumnes River College
Spirit Award – UC Davis
Sustainability – San Francisco City College
Technical – UC Davis