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This year, the University of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s Solar Boat Team participated for the first time in an international competition, the Sonnebootregatta held in Wildau, Germany (6 September), where they achieved an impressive 4th place among nine teams.

Preparation and Domestic Competition
The team previously competed in the Balaton Solar Boat Challenge from 22–24 August. Before the race, several critical components of the boat – Sparky – malfunctioned, but they were replaced at the last minute. Although this ensured participation, the replacement parts did not perform as efficiently as expected, preventing the team from approaching their speed record from previous years.

Following the Balaton race, the team engaged in intensive development work: they modeled and 3D-printed nearly ten different propellers to improve the boat’s efficiency. These developments laid the foundation for confidence ahead of their first international appearance.

Logistics and Experience
Thanks to support from °Â²¹²ú±ð°ù±ð°ù’s, Sparky was transported to Wildau on a semi-trailer, while the team traveled by minibus. This was the first time the Pannon Solar Boat Team competed abroad, providing valuable insights into the logistical and technical challenges of such an event.

Conditions at the venue were significantly different from domestic competitions: regulations were less strict, and larger variations in battery and solar panel sizes were allowed. At the same time, all boats were required to be equipped with sensors recording motor, battery, and solar panel performance, ensuring accurate and comparable results.

Competition Results
On race day, 6 September, three events were held:

• Endurance Race (3 hours): Teams were scored based on the ratio of energy consumption to distance traveled. Only the Dutch team and the Pannon Solar Boat Team managed to finish the race with fully charged batteries, meaning the boat ran entirely on solar power.

• Speed Race: The team achieved the second-best time, just behind the Dutch boat.

• Duel Race: Based on the speed results, the team faced the Dutch in a head-to-head race, where they lost as expected. In the next round, they managed to defeat the team that had finished second overall.

After combining the results of all three races, the Pannon Solar Boat Team finished in 4th place, just one point shy of the podium.

Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead
The experiences from the August Balaton and September Wildau competitions represent a milestone for the team. Their strong performance in their first international race demonstrates that through persistent work and continuous development, the Pannon Solar Boat Team is a worthy competitor on the international stage.