Sun shines for solar boat race

“It couldn’t have been better – the sun came out just when they finished the boats,” smiles Mary Lou Maisonneuve, a driving force behind an environmental initiative developed in memory of her daughter Karyne, who died three years ago from cancer at age eight. “It was foggy all morning, and I thought, ‘Oh boy, this is going to be a disaster.’ We had flashlights attached to a pole ready just in case.”

Students from eight Orléans middle schools built solar boats out of a kit along with recycled materials to make the body of the craft.

For one group of Grade 8 students from Fallingbrook, that meant a front bow made of Styrofoam, empty water bottles to make it float, popsicle sticks to act as a rudder, decorations such as feathers for style, and the key item on top – aviator sunglasses.

“We put my sunglasses on to reflect onto the solar panel,” explains team member Dan Vissers.

“It went pretty straight for the most part,” Michael Tyler adds. “We came in third place for the fastest boat, so that’s pretty good.”

Gisèle-Lalonde took the prize for fastest boat raced down a large trench dug behind the school specifically for the event, which received funding from the City of Ottawa’s community environmental projects grant program.

Henry Munro was honoured for having the best team spirit, while a De La Salle crew was chosen for the best design.

The solar boat race was the third phase of Project Karyne, following other initiatives such as the installation of a windmill at Gisèle-Lalonde and a solar car race. A fourth stage is already well in the works as the idea of a greenhouse with space for a classroom has been approved by the school board – with architect plans currently under review – and Project Karyne making funding requests to various places.