UWF receives approval for $3.3 million Triumph grant for Water and Vessel Engineering, or WAVE, research program

The University of West Florida’s proposal for a new research program known as Water and Vessel Engineering sailed through the provisional approval, subject to negotiating a term sheet and legal contract, from the Triumph Gulf Coast board of directors. UWF’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering requested $3,315,600 to establish WAVE and partner with New York Yacht Club American Magic sail racing team, which recently permanently relocated to the Port of Pensacola, to expand research and development for watercraft and vessel manufacturing. 

“The collaboration between UWF and American Magic will be transformative to economic development and research innovation in downtown Pensacola,” said Dr. Michael Reynolds, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “We are excited to build a new partnership at the Port of Pensacola and greatly look forward to working with American Magic. UWF students will have new opportunities to work alongside world class sailing experts, gaining valuable experience and a new composite materials certification.”

The WAVE program will be located primarily at the Port of Pensacola but with additional space on UWF’s Pensacola campus.The requested Triumph award will represent 23.8% of total project spending. UWF has committed to funding the remaining costs of the project which will triple the size of existing space at the Port from approximately 5,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. 

The research effort will connect new UWF research faculty and students with watercraft industry leaders like American Magic, and others, and serve to assist organizations in recruiting a skilled workforce, gain access to research and development equipment and knowledge in a convenient location on Pensacola Bay. In addition to providing research and development experience to existing science and technology students at UWF, the program will offer workforce certifications in composites that will benefit the talent pipeline for both boat building and aerospace industries.

WAVE will support Northwest Florida companies with the production of custom assemblies and unique hull designs required for the development of technologically advanced sailing vessels and high-speed watercraft. The WAVE team will support the design of new sail configurations, foils and hulls made from sustainably sourced materials. 

For more information about WAVE, visit myfloridatriumph.com. 

For more information about the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, visit uwf.edu/hmcse.