Boscombe Surf Reef won’t be ready this week (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Boscombe Surf Reef won’t be ready this week
10:16am Tuesday 27th October 2009 in News
Boscombe Surf Reef won’t be ready this week
THE long-awaited launch of Europe’s first artificial surf reef won’t be this week either, according to Bournemouth tourism bosses.
Weather conditions are being blamed for the continuing delay of the opening of the £3 million tourist attraction at Boscombe.
A tourism spokesman told the Daily Echo: “The surfing conditions are still not right for the launch, we can only get a prediction for the next few days and it now looks like the reef won’t be opened this week.
“It’s all down to waiting for a South Westerly ground swell; only time will tell if the conditions are more challenging next week for RNLI training prior to the reef launch.”
One surfer's written an online exclusive explaining why the reef shouldn't be written off just yet. Click the link below this story to read it...
Comments(68)
jobsworthwatch
says...
10:56am Tue 27 Oct 09
upyourpipe
says...
11:19am Tue 27 Oct 09
gerbil112
says...
11:49am Tue 27 Oct 09
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
12:06pm Tue 27 Oct 09
[Chris]
says...
12:19pm Tue 27 Oct 09
jobsworthwatch
says...
12:21pm Tue 27 Oct 09
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:Sounds like railtrack and the wrong snow/leaves!
Wrong kind of wind, wrong kind of waves and no doubt wrong kind of sandbags – I wonder how long it will be before some of these submerged bags split open.
GB916
says...
12:53pm Tue 27 Oct 09
jobsworthwatch wrote:You beat me to that comment,i was thinking the same thing,maybe railtrack have shres in the surf reef,all aboard the gravy train please.
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:Sounds like railtrack and the wrong snow/leaves!
Wrong kind of wind, wrong kind of waves and no doubt wrong kind of sandbags – I wonder how long it will be before some of these submerged bags split open.
Avengerboy
says...
1:00pm Tue 27 Oct 09
inpoole
says...
1:11pm Tue 27 Oct 09
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
3:00pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Mediclogan5
says...
3:32pm Tue 27 Oct 09
inpoole
says...
3:51pm Tue 27 Oct 09
[Chris]
says...
4:12pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Mediclogan5 wrote:Add to this the closure of many other amenities to gain back money from their wild spends. Such as the Rowing Club, Cliff Lifts (a major route for the many who stay at the hotels above the beach), and other attractions. At least Bournemouth has the biggest comedy show on the South Coast, it is performing at the Town Hall. Tickets are expensive and there is no parking.
Lets go to Bournemouth and we can go Skating, ...ummm no its closed down , ah well swimming then ...umm only if its sunny as theres only the beach, ahh ok then lets go surfing...umm only when the waters right...oh ok well lets go to the IMAX Cinema...ummm no as that only opened for 6 months and went belly up! Come on... what the hell is the Tourist Chief and his department planning?
charley farley west parley
says...
4:38pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Laters !
Emulated
says...
5:08pm Tue 27 Oct 09
ASRltd
says...
5:15pm Tue 27 Oct 09
While one of the possible outcomes of building a multi-purpose reefs is improved condition for recreational activities, including surfing, diving and fishing, a reef is not a wave machine. The reef does not create waves, but instead acts as a ramp that changes the way the waves break – it harnesses existing wave energy that used to break on the sand, causing erosion, and channels it to break on the offshore reef instead. As a result, the beach is protected, ecology is enhanced, and improved conditions are created for surfers, divers and fishermen.
The weather conditions needed to see the reef’s benefits simply hasn’t occurred yet. The Bournemouth reef hasn’t had groundswell events yet to “optimize“ the reefs performance, however, it has already been producing some great waves.
An impartial third party research firm conducted a study and found that the marketing and PR value of the Reef in Boscombe, even before its completion, is estimated to be greater than $10M pounds which is over 3X the total cost of the reef. The thriving restaurants – some of which are named after the reef like “Urban Reef” and “Reef Encounter” – and increased retail activity and hotel accommodations (even during a recessionary period) also are positive indicators of economic stimulus.
If you have any questions please feel free to directly contact us at: enquiries@asrltd.com or Alicia.Schwartz@KBst
rategies.com. We encourage an open dialogue on the benefits of multi-purpose reefs. (Artificial reefs)
Sincerely,
Alicia Schwartz
Marketing , ASR, ltd
http://blog.asrltd.c
om
http://ASRltd.com
yourbard
says...
5:52pm Tue 27 Oct 09
ASRltd wrote:This from someone sitting on the 11th floor of a New York tower where her PR company is based.
My name is Alicia Schwartz and I work with the ASR, ltd team, the company responsible for the newly completed Bournemouth Reef. We understand the confusion on the delay and hope this provides clarity. While one of the possible outcomes of building a multi-purpose reefs is improved condition for recreational activities, including surfing, diving and fishing, a reef is not a wave machine. The reef does not create waves, but instead acts as a ramp that changes the way the waves break – it harnesses existing wave energy that used to break on the sand, causing erosion, and channels it to break on the offshore reef instead. As a result, the beach is protected, ecology is enhanced, and improved conditions are created for surfers, divers and fishermen. The weather conditions needed to see the reef’s benefits simply hasn’t occurred yet. The Bournemouth reef hasn’t had groundswell events yet to “optimize“ the reefs performance, however, it has already been producing some great waves. An impartial third party research firm conducted a study and found that the marketing and PR value of the Reef in Boscombe, even before its completion, is estimated to be greater than $10M pounds which is over 3X the total cost of the reef. The thriving restaurants – some of which are named after the reef like “Urban Reef” and “Reef Encounter” – and increased retail activity and hotel accommodations (even during a recessionary period) also are positive indicators of economic stimulus. If you have any questions please feel free to directly contact us at: enquiries@asrltd.com or Alicia.Schwartz@KBst rategies.com. We encourage an open dialogue on the benefits of multi-purpose reefs. (Artificial reefs) Sincerely, Alicia Schwartz Marketing , ASR, ltd http://blog.asrltd.c om http://ASRltd.com
R1200RT
says...
6:22pm Tue 27 Oct 09
leonabright
says...
6:37pm Tue 27 Oct 09
I hear the Independent and Dispatches TV show are investigating.
peterdw777
says...
7:08pm Tue 27 Oct 09
waskandolbetterthanwethought
says...
7:36pm Tue 27 Oct 09
beachhut
says...
8:02pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Anyway I digress, this is no different to MP's expenses, Boscombe has been shafted as very little will be spent in the areas that need regeneration, as it's all been spent refurbishing the seafront, right down to the huge obelisk's which look like something out of "2001 a Space Odessey". Everything which has been done tilts the visitor towards Bournemouth.
All we can do is to sit and wait and wait and wait but don't blink you might just miss the opening wave
free wessex
says...
8:14pm Tue 27 Oct 09
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:And wrong type of council!
Wrong kind of wind, wrong kind of waves and no doubt wrong kind of sandbags – I wonder how long it will be before some of these submerged bags split open.
What a load of baffoons!
John T
says...
8:18pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Could she please tell me in which Fantasy World this currency is accepted and confirm that Bournemouth Council will accept payment of our Council Tax in such a non-existant form of money?
time nor Tide
says...
9:16pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Alicia, this is cut and pasted from a previous story comment ""The surfing was always known to be minimal. An attempt to add value to a protection reef by adding surfing amenity seems to have been , in most peoples view -oversold. A reef that turrns a 1m wave into a 2m breaking wave for that height for 75 to 100 meters is now looking like a wedge at the peak of the reef. Is the selected reef design 21 falacious and erroneous in its ability to be created, real and performing?. (187t/1m offshore ) Others, the users and the designers can answer that. I notice ASR have been asked? Also can someone tell me why the reef has been built bottom layer last on top and the top layer first on the bottom? Is this the reason that the promised results of reef21 will not happen ?"" Are you willing to confirm that the reef will when conditions allow (187t,1m) produce a breaking wave of 2m for the length of the reef 75-100m -is the promoted reef21 design what was built? was it built? when the design conditions occur will it perform as it was designed to? The surf report on sorted surf surf has been reporting a solid 2ft groundswell this week with larger on sets -so must be from the wrong direction. Also there is a inconsistancy in part your spiel. "The weather conditions needed to see the reef’s benefits simply hasn’t occurred yet. The Bournemouth reef hasn’t had groundswell events yet to “optimize“ the reefs performance, however, it has already been producing some great waves." you are admitting that the reefs benefits simply been seen yet' after arguing that most of them are apparent as intrinsic value of the reefs presence. You seem confused about the reefs value.
Can you please answer if reef design 21 is what was sold and was built? If its to be as promised it might be, worth the weight? please reassure us in substance about the wave to be amplified 1 to 2 on breaking and that will occur for 75-100 down the reef. If not pray tell what we are to expect as what was designed,sold and built. No more spiel please , just some simple reassurence of what we are to expect when conditions are right. what are we to expect when things are right?
wonderway
says...
9:19pm Tue 27 Oct 09
ASRltd wrote:sorry you were paid to produce a surf reef not somewhere to dive on, fish on,
My name is Alicia Schwartz and I work with the ASR, ltd team, the company responsible for the newly completed Bournemouth Reef. We understand the confusion on the delay and hope this provides clarity.
While one of the possible outcomes of building a multi-purpose reefs is improved condition for recreational activities, including surfing, diving and fishing, a reef is not a wave machine. The reef does not create waves, but instead acts as a ramp that changes the way the waves break – it harnesses existing wave energy that used to break on the sand, causing erosion, and channels it to break on the offshore reef instead. As a result, the beach is protected, ecology is enhanced, and improved conditions are created for surfers, divers and fishermen.
The weather conditions needed to see the reef’s benefits simply hasn’t occurred yet. The Bournemouth reef hasn’t had groundswell events yet to “optimize“ the reefs performance, however, it has already been producing some great waves.
An impartial third party research firm conducted a study and found that the marketing and PR value of the Reef in Boscombe, even before its completion, is estimated to be greater than $10M pounds which is over 3X the total cost of the reef. The thriving restaurants – some of which are named after the reef like “Urban Reef” and “Reef Encounter” – and increased retail activity and hotel accommodations (even during a recessionary period) also are positive indicators of economic stimulus.
If you have any questions please feel free to directly contact us at: enquiries@asrltd.com or Alicia.Schwartz@KBst
rategies.com. We encourage an open dialogue on the benefits of multi-purpose reefs. (Artificial reefs)
Sincerely,
Alicia Schwartz
Marketing , ASR, ltd
http://blog.asrltd.c
om
http://ASRltd.com
. Big question,...........
....................
....can we have our money back
a council spin machine paid 3.3 million
plus extra.s
time nor Tide
says...
10:42pm Tue 27 Oct 09
If you can tell us what to expect and it eventuates then people may regain some amount of confidence again. At the moment they are all experiencing a "total loss of confidence". So ASR you can only recover confidence from the public by telling us what to expect -after all if you cant who can?
[Chris]
says...
11:42pm Tue 27 Oct 09
.
Secondly, you also refer to its uses as a reef for fishing and diving. At the same time as surfers will be using it. A recipe for a good marine accident I think. Or will the Leisure Department be introducing a time table for times it can be used for Surfing, Fishing or Diving.
.
Alicia of ASR, sorry, a good try, but your words are about as much twaddle as those locally who have been trying to feed us rubbish. The true fact is, the Surf Reef will not work. It is a fiasco, and as been a total waste of money, our money from the outset.
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Some one asked how many pods have been sold. Three at the last count, yes 3 out of how many, 54 I recall being the total number. 16 at £90K, and the remainder at £60K. The more expensive has more amenities and facilities to its interior I believe. One cannot stay in them over night, and the showers are located in public area at ground level.
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I think we ought to change the name from Surf Reef, to Surf Wreath
cooperman
says...
3:37am Wed 28 Oct 09
time nor Tide wrote:i cannot make an ounce of sense out of your post - what language is it written in? if you must try to display some pseuedo interlect at least read what you write and try to draw your post to a point because you have certainly confused me you wrote ..............'Also there is a inconsistancy in part your spiel.', ....................
Alicia, this is cut and pasted from a previous story comment ""The surfing was always known to be minimal. An attempt to add value to a protection reef by adding surfing amenity seems to have been , in most peoples view -oversold. A reef that turrns a 1m wave into a 2m breaking wave for that height for 75 to 100 meters is now looking like a wedge at the peak of the reef. Is the selected reef design 21 falacious and erroneous in its ability to be created, real and performing?. (187t/1m offshore ) Others, the users and the designers can answer that. I notice ASR have been asked? Also can someone tell me why the reef has been built bottom layer last on top and the top layer first on the bottom? Is this the reason that the promised results of reef21 will not happen ?"" Are you willing to confirm that the reef will when conditions allow (187t,1m) produce a breaking wave of 2m for the length of the reef 75-100m -is the promoted reef21 design what was built? was it built? when the design conditions occur will it perform as it was designed to? The surf report on sorted surf surf has been reporting a solid 2ft groundswell this week with larger on sets -so must be from the wrong direction. Also there is a inconsistancy in part your spiel. "The weather conditions needed to see the reef’s benefits simply hasn’t occurred yet. The Bournemouth reef hasn’t had groundswell events yet to “optimize“ the reefs performance, however, it has already been producing some great waves." you are admitting that the reefs benefits simply been seen yet' after arguing that most of them are apparent as intrinsic value of the reefs presence. You seem confused about the reefs value.
Can you please answer if reef design 21 is what was sold and was built? If its to be as promised it might be, worth the weight? please reassure us in substance about the wave to be amplified 1 to 2 on breaking and that will occur for 75-100 down the reef. If not pray tell what we are to expect as what was designed,sold and built. No more spiel please , just some simple reassurence of what we are to expect when conditions are right. what are we to expect when things are right?
..........well i think the inconsistancy is in fact yours - just read what you wrote there ,does it make sense to you without having to unravell what you are trying to say ? surely not
Mediclogan5
says...
6:58am Wed 28 Oct 09
The-Bleeding-Obvious
says...
7:14am Wed 28 Oct 09
Mediclogan5 wrote:Its obvious what they should have done. They should have knocked down the Imax and used it to build the surf reef!
Dear Council, please read the above ...and DO SOMETHING!...its a FARCE and as council tax payers surely an investigation is required. And while you are at it what exactly is happening about the other fiasco The IMAX? Is not the council accountable to its spending?
time nor Tide
says...
8:39am Wed 28 Oct 09
cooperman rightly wrote.,
"cannot make an ounce of sense out of your post - what language is it written in? if you must try to display some pseuedo interlect at least read what you write and try to draw your post to a point because you have certainly confused me you wrote ..............'Also there is a inconsistancy in part your spiel.', ....................
..........well i think the inconsistancy is in fact yours - just read what you wrote there ,does it make sense to you without having to unravell what you are trying to say ? surely not"
yes thanks for confirming what I realised and corrected above - too much technical for my logic to digest and then make an opinion on. I was out of my depth there but i will try and make sense of it and maybe comment again. Thats when I am sure I know what I am talking about! Thank god I wasnt paid to write it as I would have to give my money back!
Skono
says...
9:09am Wed 28 Oct 09
rs/Windsurfers come from many walks of life from unemployed to Senior VP's, MD's CFO's, Retried and Self-employed hence the ability to do what they at 11am on a Tuesday morning and as such are financially secure enough to take time off so please do not throw the 'no money good for nothings' line in the mix again.
2) I get a huge feeling that the people who keep defending the reef and saying that they had a great surf are in actual fact linked in some manner or other to the 'Surf Centre' at the Pier, as on the days they have claimed to have had an 'excellent surf' we watched them paddle about for 15 minutes, wait for wave after wave, and then paddle off to the pier to join the rest of the actual wave catching surfers. Yet still seem to claim a 1 foot lump of white water was 'excellent'.
3) ASR were paid by the UK goverment by part of a regeneration bonus to deliver a wave enhancing reef off the beach of Boscombe, I hear nothing about that bid about turning a crack addict into a surfer or stopping car crime in Bosc Vegas. ASR we suggest that you tread carefully here before a group of people hit you with some Legals. You were paid to deliver a surf reef, IT DOES NOT WORK. Here is an open invitation, come here and stay for 14 days and if you can ride that reef for more than 2 days in a row that is better than the wave by the pier I will personally give £1000 to Juila's House Cancer Charity for every day that you do. Now instead of telling us how wonderful you are, may we suggest you come to Bournemouth and surf with the people who are calling you fraudsters before we go to the Courts and demand our money back for fraud.
4) The Council, ah the Council of Leaders, I am not sure what the title is but I think it goes something like misappropriation of tax payers money. You paid for something THAT DOES NOT WORK so stop giving up the next week, next week, next week rubbish as even when you do launch it, what about the day after that? If you have 300 complaints and 2 people saying it is okay, surely it is time to investigate with an independant body?
5) I think it is high time we all got together and got the TV people down here and got some laywers involved in getting our money back.
If you buy something and it does not work, you are entitled to your money back. Bournemouth Council you have a duty to get our money back from these people at ASR.
Simple as that!
By the way.....the reef isnt working today, nor was it yesterday. and I suggest nor will it tomorrow.
time nor Tide
says...
10:56am Wed 28 Oct 09
.
Now Milord does the person called fraudster associate with those characters called erroneous and fallacious we hear of so much?
.
Now these are words I can easily understand without technical mumbo jumbo.
.
Disclaimer - Any resemblance or reference to persons living or dead are purely coincidental and without the correct wind, swell, leaves or snow to make a case are totally fictional?
time nor Tide
says...
11:37am Wed 28 Oct 09
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Why in heavens’ name is there not a better shape for them to break just a little further out.
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Instead it’s sad seeing the dozen surfers getting a 1m ride up onto the sand?
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The waves today are seen often and those are the ones that don’t need massive works and costs to give longer rides.
‘
Bournemouth cannot be anything other than a improved version of today .
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But it can be a very useful version of today with Waikiki surfing for all learners and beginners.
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That would really make a big difference to people coming here to safely learn to surf in small fun conditions.
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Also because the waves here are nearly always small like today that would mean many, many days of surfing for everybody.
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Seems to me that someone’s decided wrong. We may have the wrong size reef when many small near shore wave shaping things are needed.
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Ones that would make small improvements to many days instead of large improvements (I hope) to a few days for just a few skilled people
MisterE
says...
11:57am Wed 28 Oct 09
Perhaps this is the great mystical secret to the reef - it only works when it's snowing...??
peter beneather benefit cheater'
says...
1:44pm Wed 28 Oct 09
marqueemark
says...
2:09pm Wed 28 Oct 09
http://tinyurl.com/m
6pko6
"Dr Tony Butt, a surf scientist, said the swells in Bournemouth were not reliable
enough to make the reef work regularly. 'The reef makes the best of poor conditions,
but most of the year the swells aren't the kind that will be enhanced by the reef
because they're short and choppy,' he said. 'The reef will come into
its own on the handful of times that you do get nice groomed swells from the Atlantic
– but some years you don't get those type of swells at all."
Originally it was reported that the reef would "double the number of surfable days
per year", now it seams that it will never work regularly and we may need to wait
12 months or more for it to produce a single decent days surfing!
Surely the council should of done some form of investigation before handing over any
money! A couple of hours basic use of Google reveals that other artificial reefs
haven't performed too well!
ASR now claims that nature isn't playing ball?? Did they not bother to investigate
local conditions as part of th £70K they were paid? This would of
revealed the prevailing wind and swell conditions along with the local
tidal anomolies.
Is the reef really in the right place? At low tide it is clearly
visible above the water line, at high tide it is too far under the
water to have any effect. At what tidal state is the reef supposed to
work? Building it to work at mid tide seems a bit daft, given that we
get a double high tide locally.
Can anyone (preferably from ASR) state which of the following conditions are
right for the reef - that might at least give some indication to the amount of days
a year that it will work:
Spring tides or neap tides?
Tidal state high/mid/low?
Prevailing wind direction?
Predicted wave height in Bournemouth bay?
The skeptic in me is tempted to believe that ASR were
never bothered about the reef working and simply more interested in
pocketing taxpayers cash?
The article suggests that the reef is still undergoing "fine tuning".
Has any "fine tuning" taken place? Has anyone seen any "fine tuning"
taking place over the last few weeks?
Avengerboy
says...
3:41pm Wed 28 Oct 09
Ef the ref
says...
4:24pm Wed 28 Oct 09
grumpy om
says...
4:52pm Wed 28 Oct 09
woolamai
says...
6:25pm Wed 28 Oct 09
Surf shops - I don’t have any attachment to the guys and girls working down here other than I quite like a cold beer at the Urban Reef after surfing and I like window shopping in Sorted. Personally I think they’re a likeable bunch and the area is a lot more fun with them around than it was before.
ASR – Could be con-artists, could be talented engineers, could be a bunch of way-out boffins. Haven’t met them so can’t comment. But they’ve built a reef that creates a wave that’s better than anywhere else in the bay so they’ve at least delivered their part of the deal.
Reef - It works way better than I would have expected. It’s definitely not just a wedge as some have suggested– it walls up quite nicely the whole length. Steep takeoff and start , slow section in the middle and then fast wall at the end. It seems entirely predictable and consistent except for a sideways wash at the end of the wave that catches you our first couple of times. No idea what it’ll be like when it’s big – consequential I suspect.
How often – I’ve had 4 good sessions out there since they cleared the site. Knowing now what to look for I could have had a lot more and I only get to surf early weekend mornings and holidays.
So how come it looks rubbish all the time – Most of time it will be. But even when it’s good it’ll be hard to tell from the beach. The few metres of wave face just in front of a surfboard look very different over the nose of the board than they do from 2, 3 or 400m away, particularly on a small wave. A lady swam out to watch last time I was out there and said she was completely blown away by how big the waves were close up. If she’d relied just on the Urban Reef cam she’d had a very different view. I expect someone with a waterproof camera or video will get out there soon and plaster pictures from close up all over the web.
So how come no-one is out there most of the time – I have no idea why no more than 1 other guy has been out there when I’ve been there, but then I don’t know where the good surfers in the area do their surfing – probably not in the bay at all. One guy told me he didn’t fancy it because he’d heard it was really shallow and dangerous. Another told me he’d heard it was rubbish. And another said he didn’t fancy hiking/swimming a 30 minute round trip from his car on the off-chance of finding some waves. Guess everyone has their own reasons.
But that will change and then it’ll get crowded and that’ll be the issue going forwards. How many will the take off spot hold - not many. It's a fair swim back each wave but even then I reckon 3 good surfers and it'd be full.
Meanwhile the paint will start peeling and rust stains will start dribbling down Honeycomb Towers and we’ll have an eyesore overlooking a shingle beach. I think that’s more of an issue than whether there are 2 or 20 surfers on the reef.
time nor Tide
says...
7:34pm Wed 28 Oct 09
"But they’ve built a reef that creates a wave that’s better than anywhere else in the bay so they’ve at least delivered their part of the deal.
Reef - It works way better than I would have expected. It’s definitely not just a wedge as some have suggested– it walls up quite nicely the whole length. Steep takeoff and start , slow section in the middle and then fast wall at the end. It seems entirely predictable and consistent except for a sideways wash at the end of the wave that catches you our first couple of times. No idea what it’ll be like when it’s big – consequential "
.
I say
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I suspect with that experience you must be feeling blessed as having so much spent for you and a few friends individual waves. That’s nice and I can understand your gratitude to the providers , payers and all that made it possible.
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I can also understand your reluctance to share your experience with photos. As soon as you do your uncrowded nirvana will become a crowded playground that will no longer be your own domain.
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It must be so difficult just disclosing the way you do –knowing that will end your monopoly.
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Yes distance is deceiving when it comes to size. Yes, a person in he water will be daunted by a few feet vertical wall of water with no depth under it.
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The continuous footage of webcam being recorded will confirm the time you have been there and the people under siege for what’s there will be promptly defending their positions by confirming what you say.
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But in the mean time I hope somebody goes out with you to capture these first footage of your unique adventure. That’s the least that all can expect from such a long costly journey.
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Especially a journey that has created so much that you disagree with. The total cost of what you enjoy is in your own words far greater an issue than the cost of the reef. I guess that why you are so gratefull?
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luCKey you , but please cant you at least share the expensive thrill with everybody? Are a few unique and time beating photos too much to ask? Surely you get get a pint or two for them?
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Also is the commercial spin machine too stupid not to be there close up and record what you do? They are the brunt of much unnecessary misfortune for that stupidity? It becomes self imposed suffering as they haven’t been with you.
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So when everyone has been saying that the swell has not been right –it secretly has and you have benefited . But you will share with words but not pictures?
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I expect that you will be there with bells on your toes this Sunday –the rest of the counntry will be and that could mean the end of your solitude. It will also be the end of the rhyme ‘water water everywhere and not a wave to surf”?
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We all look forward to photos of you surfing as that’s the least that a wondering town can expect. Please end our suffering with something other than kind words.
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By the way do you know that there are still serious penalties for top shelf surfing on an unopened reef?
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The lone defender has to make sacrifices i guess? Photos may be too many?
PTBarnum
says...
8:15pm Wed 28 Oct 09
Haven’t blown your cover with a Freudian slip have we?
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If you are wool whose eyes are you trying to cover?
.
“Pull the Wool Over His Eyes
Dates back to 1839, meaning "to deceive". "Wool" refers to a powdered wig, such as men used to wear. Pulling down the wool wig would temporarily blind the person wearing it.”
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Tsk tsk , it’s a **** shame when ones too silly not to think carefully before adopting a stage name . You are now a registered member of the “circus’, welcome aboard!!
The wigs not the surfboards are getting dusted off at the moment………… woooooolly r u?.
All CCtv will show who you are, if indeed you do exist! Then you and your woolly wig will be welcome at the party!
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There are many people who think you and your kind have been “pulling the wool over our eyes” wool am you!
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The only way that will be properly tested is the proper way with proper evidence in front of proper judges.
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Our opinions will have little to do with it!
Brian Gunn
says...
8:16pm Wed 28 Oct 09
PTBarnum
says...
8:53pm Wed 28 Oct 09
you are hired as well!
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you get a suit, red nose and annd anndd wait for it ......
.be patient !!
tttaadddaaah |- a n e w wooly wig!
I know its an emotional thing to get such reward for such competance - heres my shoulder for a moment!
( pssst (softly said) how old did you say your sister was?)
mark my words Brian
"theres one born a minute"
welcome to the big top son!
leonabright
says...
9:08pm Wed 28 Oct 09
PTBarnum
says...
9:23pm Wed 28 Oct 09
Did he offer a two for one deal on reefs as well?
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He’s hired to join the circus as well –
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Why, commercial initiative displayed and well demonstrated. (just the wrong product I’m afraid)
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But we can send him global selling licenses to copy our reef, the two for one deal will get them buying?
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Suits, wigs and noses will be handed out this Sunday. New recruits just have to promise to stick to legitimate ‘stings” such as surfing reefs that do everything (when there’s surf.)
woolamai
says...
10:12pm Wed 28 Oct 09
time nor Tide
says...
7:58am Thu 29 Oct 09
I think his views are agreed with by all that i talk with that observe the beach there. he does not however include the origional designers claim of double the size wave for 75-100 length of ride.
"The council and ASR have really changed they're tune, from they're original claims that the reef would double the height of the waves and double the amount of surfable days a year to basically now saying it will only work on clean groundswells with almost no wind- something they get very rarely in Bournemouth.
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I know there have been a few good bboard sessions on it, but the stand ups are pretty much yet to score it and on the latest swells the banks at the piers (particularly one Masons just found which apparently creates a nice wedge) have been throwing up far better waves than the reef.
The council describes it in the article as a 'Multi purpose reef' and bang on about all its other uses, but there is very little mention of the purpose they originally put so much emphasis on- bettering the waves.
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The council and ASR have really changed they're tune, from they're original claims that the reef would double the height of the waves and double the amount of surfable days a year to basically now saying it will only work on clean groundswells with almost no wind- something they get very rarely in Bournemouth."
he does have a picture of a reasonable reef wave breaking on his site at
http://lukegartsidep
hotography.blogspot.
com/2009/10/bournemo
uth-surf-reef.html
woodley chief clown
says...
10:29am Thu 29 Oct 09
woodley chief clown
says...
2:15pm Thu 29 Oct 09
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
9:20am Fri 30 Oct 09
grumpy om wrote:Quite - it's already sunk and scuppered.
how do you launch something that is already in the water?
time nor Tide
says...
11:50am Fri 30 Oct 09
11:31am Fri 30 Oct 09
www.stuff.co.nz search the site for opanake reef will find the reef grief story - now our surfing wreath?
Construction of the reef began in March 2006 with placement of bag anchors. It has been delayed by equipment problems and rough weather. the entire budget was spent in putting 10% of the bags in.
18 April 2008
The reef, which was the first to be finished in New Zealand, just needed a little fine-tuning, Reef Trust acting chairman Neil Walker said.
18/04/2008
"It is kind of experimental in the filling of the bags. This year because they knew what they are doing and they've got the right equipment the bags have just gone in."
The reef was already showing signs of its potential.
09/02/2009
Mr Lusk said: "ASR acknowledge they did get some things wrong which resulted in only four bags being filled in the first two years and that delay has cost us money. ASR were contracted to secure 28 bags to the seabed and fill them with sand. The end sections of those bags remain to be filled to create the shape that causes a wave. It's not certain when the work will be done at this stage but they have agreed to proceed.
15/04/2009
"Surf reef representatives say they will be back in Opunake this week to do an underwater inspection of what some locals are now calling the "surf grief".
But the Raglan-based designer and contractor, ASR Ltd, is keeping its options open about when the reef might be completed and operational."
.
04/07/2009
Containers, industrial equipment and piles of sand are ruining the view at the northern headland spot, frustrated locals say and they want it cleaned up.
The unsightly equipment is part of the town's artificial reef construction, which stalled more than a year ago.
The family say the lookout is just another example of the controversy and hold-ups Opunake has dealt with over the reef issue.
"David Lusk said they'll (ASR Ltd) will be coming back but there are half-finished reefs around the world from Wales to India. I don't think they'll be coming back to Opunake.
"We could be waiting forever," they said.
.
11/09/2009
Although ASR has "purchased" a floating pipeline and sand pumping gear from the trust, Dr Mead used the term "circus" when referring to the complex setting up and dismantling of that operation.
He says a tug-towed barge carrying a hydraulic excavator might be the best method to complete the job, instead of pumping sand out from shore. The digger could excavate from the seabed, fill the bags and lower them into place. But it would depend on whether a further consent to excavate was required.
"We did the survey using depth sounder, GPS, video cameras and tape measures. We have gaps to fill between the three sections of the reef and the height has to be raised to a uniform level to make the wave curl."
Yesterday Dr Mead said: "Boscombe will be our showpiece reef. People are surfing that reef now, but it will perform better in winter when the big swells come in.
"The Bournemouth Borough Council are partnering up with us to take the technology to the European Union. The more EU links they get, the bigger grants they can apply for, and for us it means more reef projects."
Although ASR has "purchased" a floating pipeline and sand pumping gear from the trust, Dr Mead used the term "circus" when referring to the complex setting up and dismantling of that operation.
www.stuff.co.nz search the site for opanake reef will find the reef grief story - now our surfing wreath?
woolamai
says...
10:52am Sat 31 Oct 09
time nor Tide
says...
11:09am Sat 31 Oct 09
.
How much are you being paid to say this drivel?
But the surfers will vote with their choice as they are doing and my pictures will not miss them if they go to your reef.
tomorrow may be better?
just saying things doesnt make them real -surfers on waves does.
woolamai
says...
12:51pm Sat 31 Oct 09
RNLI are on duty from around 10 and are megaphoning anyone away who starts to paddle that way as it's still not officially open so pretty pointless looking after then. But then you know that's why no-one is on the reef after 10am don't you. You do know that don't you - or have you not actually been down there?
time nor Tide
says...
8:53pm Sat 31 Oct 09
.
I tthink papaJoes the trustworthy one to listen to here!
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Anyone else , make your own choice!
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Always remember what your parents told you about strangers ! Especially the new cyber-stalkers!
Notalocal
says...
1:18am Sun 1 Nov 09
--------------------
----------------
Hi.
As you may know, recently Boscombe in Dorset on the south coast of England has installed an artificial surfing reef. The cost of which has been underestimated, the delivery of which was delayed and the completion and end results are still subject to approval.
It has become quite a talking point locally and within the greater surf community, and it is now not just a local issue but also a global issue.
ASR ltd. The company responsible for the design and implementation of the reef appear to have made fundamental errors in construction with regards to placement of the sandbags that make up the reef. As such, the reef itself has not met the mandate which was set out when the local council were sold the project - to create surfable waves of a certain quality on a more frequent occurrence than the present surfing conditions within Bournemouth Bay.
One major reason why the reef was approved for construction by the council was that it was believed the extra tourism revenue would help local business and the regeneration of the pier area would improve the image of the town. Well, the pier regeneration does look very nice, but because there is no surf on the reef it could all turn into one big mistake with no one actually coming to spend money there.
Another aspect of the project was the sale of the beachfront car park to make way for new apartment buildings. These have been erected, but local hearsay is that they are not occupied by many and that they are mostly sold as holiday apartments. Again, not bringing in the year round benefits expected. It would also be nice to know if anyone affiliated with the council if also affiliated with the property firms involved in construction.
Now all this alone might be stomachable, just. But before the reef in Boscombe was even approved, council members visited existing natural and artificial reefs worldwide used for surfing. One of these reefs I'm sure would have been the New Zealand Opanake reef, another artificial reef constructed by ASR ltd. Of this project, local surfers have noted that not only has the project there not delivered on it's promises but it has also had a detrimental effect on the other local waves in the area. As well as making the surrounding sea now unsafe for swimmers and bathers. If this information was available to Bournemouth council prior to approving the Boscombe reef,... well, why was approved in the first place?
It has now been reported that ASR Ltd are to design and build a reef in India. It is bad enough that this poor nation has now been sold on (judging by past ASR projects) what at worst is a waste of money and at best an unproven technology. But the funds of which apparently are coming from the Boxing Day Tsunami relief funds.
So the questions I would like you to investigate are:
1) Why, given ASR's past failures did the Boscombe reef get approval?
2) What has been the cost to the tax payer for this venture?
3) Was the project ever really viable anyway? And has it met it's mandate?
4) Can we stop ASR from plying their trade elsewhere in the world? Not only stopping them from wasting local funding which could be used more productively elsewhere, but from destroying other local resources in the process (ie. bathing areas)
If you investigate further this matter I am sure you will find strong local sentiment towards it. In the current climate I feel the local councils have a responsibility to spend our money more prudently. Trying to emulate nature is never going to be easy and predictable, but the statements made from the outset of this project eluded to the fact the reef would:
A - Increase the number of surfable days in Boscombe, attracting visiting surfers on more frequently. (Not only has it not done this, it has had a detrimental effect on other breaks in the area which will no doubt lead to LESS surfers visiting Boscombe, thus LESS revenue.)
B - Increase the height of the waves. In union with point A, it was believed that the number of days when there are waves in Boscombe, but too small to surf, the reef would magnify these waves to produce more surfable days in the year. ASR are now claiming that surfing conditions in Bournemouth Bay are not productive to good surfing conditions and that the more consistent time of winter will provide the required conditions for the reef to show it works - not quite what was sold though.
C - Improve the quality of the wave. At present there does appear to be a wave of sorts breaking when the conditions are favourable, but again, the quality of which does not meet the expectations promised by ASR.
Bournemouth council have not yet signed off the project as complete. They are waiting for a 'good' day of waves so that they can train the lifeguards on it. But they have been waiting a while now - long enough for there to be a variety of different wave producing conditions where other surf areas locally have produced better waves than the 'reef'.
It is rumoured that the council is withholding £300k from ASR until the reef is signed off as complete. If this is the case I would like you guys to intervene and investigate so that more money is not wasted on ASR. I am pretty sure that the reef will be signed off. Only because not many people locally or within the council have any idea what makes a good surfing wave. Therefore they can wipe their hands of the situation and claim success, only the long term benefits will not be forthcoming because us, the surfers, will not be using the area and as such local businesses will not feel the benefit.
Please investigate this matter as a matter of importance. It needs to be seen that good intentions are not enough and that mistakes of this magnitude do not cost local populations again.
Kind regards and thanks for reading.
Notalocal
says...
1:24am Sun 1 Nov 09
"An impartial third party research firm conducted a study and found that the marketing and PR value of the Reef in Boscombe, even before its completion, is estimated to be greater than $10M pounds which is over 3X the total cost of the reef. "
-----
Not sure what 10million dollar pounds are, pretty sure that are worthless though. Any chance of seeing this independent research?
cathyl
says...
1:38pm Sun 1 Nov 09
PTBarnum
says...
9:06pm Sun 1 Nov 09
I haven’t seen as many long range lenses and cameras since the pipeline masters. Jet skis and helicopters were the best way of capturing the footage and it was reassuring seeing them gather that close up footage.
What was even more assurring was ASR was right in their gathering all the scientific data on the fine tuning that they had done. Thats the thing about that firm and its directors -right there when it counts doing what counts. They really are in this for the long haul?
Our tent had a huge ASR screen that showed every surfer getting fully barreled for the full length of the reef. It was amazing! The ASR person at the door said it was not safe to go outside –but the TV was a better way of watching the action
'
Considering what’s at stake for a commercial interest here (big money), Its not surprising that professional surfers in their hordes took to the reef yesterday as The bad press that ASR have been hammered with has left them a little ... sad and lonely.
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We can expect that every wave will been recorded in its finest detail for complex analysis and dissection.
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Firstly because ASR in their professional obsession with quality waves see the fine detail of looking, recording, measuring and analyzing every little swell as important as every design/construction choice they made.
The following is a leaked presentation given to council on the special skills and technology that ASR had as a hallmark of their sucess.
"Narration: Kerry is currently involved in designing and constructing dozens of artificial reefs all over the world. The Mount Maunganui reef in New Zealand is a good example of a small reef built especially for pushing up surfing waves.
Kerry: The thing about surfing reefs is that you need a very precise surface because if the reef is full of bumps the wave gets all these ugly discontinuities on the wave face and it really upsets the surfing wave.
Narration: Incredibly, the construction process Kerry developed to build Mount Reef made it plan accurate to within ten centimetres. "
It was on this basis that the Bournemouth reef was purchased and its so good to know that long haul ASR will honor that promotional aspect of their product to the centimetre! No wonder the hordes were there!
That is the way that this world leader has emerged from one small sucess to evergrowing huge sucess in their products.
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Their attention to guarenteeing customer satisfaction and full delivery of product. Product that complys with every sales promise made. Complys to every letter of every word. That why every second person on the reef was an ASR scientist doing their jobs well! QA where it counts.
One bag more than 100mm out of place they are there to fixit. Council were told that only ASR had the special secret to build with that tolerance.
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They see a immediate feedback of information from waves like today as being a part of the evolution process. (The new range of reefs will be called the BBC EVOLUTION series special edition.)
This is the sort of professional service and after sales support that will be the a hallmark of the Artificial Surfing Reef Industry for centuries to come. Just wait until the “anniversary leviathan model “ is sunk .
It will only be offered to past full paying customers on “the surf now pay before” plan. So Bournemouth if you want to qualify for that you have to settle your bill outstanding now. ( please, please can we have one?)
We can now expect this event to be plastered over every surf media and tabloid globally.
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At last Bournemouth Artificial surfing Reef will get the recognition it deserves -Bournemouth now is on the cusp of a wonderful future. One more reef on the second order quick two4one deal will seal the benefits. Come on council get that order book out - I say as I gently wipe a tear from my eye.
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These guys are GOOD -they deserve it. But please 5mill. This time? Just think how much better it will be if they can have some more latitude in design. (That’s how it went from 250k to 3mill remember and look at the difference it made.
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These photos, video and continuous commentary by professional surf callers for future customers including but not limited to BBC IOC, ASP , EU , SURFAID, BANDAID, UNESCO, REDCROSS, robert mugarbe and of course his majesty, the last king of scotland. (psst we get 5% spotters as we were first)
Asr's assistance in this is gratefully acknowledged and they of course deserve a bonus. This is mooted to be a special presentation by none other than MH POW. Where after the directors will be pleased to know that they will be bestowed the honor of being made guests of the crown.
This has been a wonderful thing for Bournemouth and the announcement of the special royal gift to be bestowed upon them is indeed , an early Christmas for Bournemouth.
How lucky for Bournemouth was their chance observation of the consistent wave conditions here being best for the European demonstration reef. Council gets 5% of all sales from our demo. How good is that?
I got to run as they need more batteries down at the beach hoot-an-anny for tomorrow mornings grand ceremony.
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Now no sneaking or skulking off - ASR as your gift back stage tickets from the crown will be the highlight of the morning festivities.
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ASR and the six authors - you be sure to have yourselves a nice day whilst you have this chance to fully bask in the limelight or if you like in “sunshine of Bournemouth’s peoples love” whilst being hosted by the crown.
woolamai
says...
10:14pm Sun 1 Nov 09
"There is a reef somewhere in the uk today that is breaking absolutely sick and i really wish i could get out to shoot it... oh yea, and its man made." http://lukegartsidep
hotography.blogspot.
com/2009/11/reef.htm
l
And from another local surfer on MSW - "Heavy as you like, the lid's where taking off under the lips for a short right barrel. Take my hat off to those guys."
From that I gather it works and the bodyboarders voted with their boards. Were there many voting to grovel around under the piers chasing moving peaks - just the yellow and blue sponge ones I heard?
Bile Brigade - you'll struggle to pull this one around. You can nay-say the odd surfer who says he's had it good but you can't contradict a whole beachfront of Daily Mail readers out for a Sunday stroll.
PTBarnum
says...
10:28pm Sun 1 Nov 09
did you get the hot ot cold platter?
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what a day it was! Tomorrow will be even better!
.
Would you like to meet Charles as well? I can arrange an introduction for you.
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It would be so much an honor!
Skono
says...
11:47am Mon 2 Nov 09
Here's the trouble yet again, surfers vote with their boards and they are clearly voting as they were yesterday.
Lets see the BBC interview the council stood infront of the reef and let them explain the stats above.
What I find incredible is that we paid £2.6m for a wave that lasts under 2 seconds on a ride when the one by the pier is 8-12 seconds FOR FREE!!!!!
Skono
says...
11:52am Mon 2 Nov 09
time nor Tide
says...
3:03pm Mon 2 Nov 09
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Theres no joy in this story for anybody!
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On the bright side 5 reef surfers did get some 2s rides?
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oops gotta duck! (incommings)
poole_god says...
10:42am Tue 27 Oct 09
Could be quite a shock when they finally wave the flag to open it, I think the Echo should ensure there is a slow build up to this highly anticipate moment, I would hate to think thet someone would get a nasty shock and make them ill.