IT’S on the brink.
Bournemouth’s artificial surf reef will see some serious action today, say council bosses.
The weather looks set to be provide the right conditions for the delayed multi-million pound project sometime this week.
Yesterday, RNLI lifeguards completed their training ahead of the anticipated launch in the next few days.
Though a few surfers braved the waters off Boscombe, high winds made the sea “a bit messy” said RNLI divisional lifeguard manager, Barry Heathfield.
He added: “We have three lifeguards based here every day, from 10am till dusk, 365 days a years from now.”
“The conditions today haven’t been ideal. It’s been pretty rough but it has given us good idea of the worst we can expect.”
If the swell is right, surfers can anticipate frequent, fast waves of up to ten and a half feet.
Bournemouth Council had a team of officials on the scene yesterday morning and a spokesman said: “It looks as though we’ll be ready to go in the next few days, weather permitting.”
Town hall bosses acknowledge that opinion is divided on just how effective or not the reef will be in producing the right waves.
The spokesman added: “There’ll be a period of assessment which may last for a year and we’ll be looking for feedback.”
By the afternoon, surfers generally agreed that surfing conditions had improved although there were too many white waves.
Most of those on the reef itself appeared to be body boarders.
Surfer Beth Graham, 31, of Pokesdown said: “It’s working to an extent, but has it been worth the money and time?”
Acting manager at Sorted Surf School on the Overstrand, Dean Griffiths, said he had already surfed the reef three times.
“They were good, fast waves, certainly not for beginners.
“There’s been some negative comment about what the reef will deliver but a huge amount of interest has been generated. We’re all very excited. It’ll be a huge draw.”
What do you think of it so far? Email newsdesk@ bournemouthecho.co.uk
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