Windsurfing champion puts Boscombe surf reef to the test (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Windsurfing champion puts Boscombe surf reef to the test
8:15am Friday 17th July 2009 in
ALTHOUGH Europe’s first artificial reef isn’t due for completion until the autumn, it didn’t deter windsurfing ace Guy Cribb from being first to put it to the test.
As stormy seas lashed the South Coast, the 13 times UK champion from Poole made surfing history.
Guy, 39, who has windsurfed all over the world, told the Daily Echo: “I’ve ridden waves in Hawaii and Australia but it was great to score some good surf in Bournemouth in July.
“The reef is already showing huge potential as a great wave spot.”
Bournemouth council stressed that the reef was still a construction site and unsafe for surfers.
But Rex Pollock, contractor ASR Ltd’s marine construction manager, said: “It’s great to see the reef producing decent surfing conditions before it’s even finished. We don’t, however, encourage people to use the reef.
“The base layer was |completed last year, the flat layer on top is now complete and we are now working on the ramp which pushes up the waves. Construction is on schedule; 11 out of 18 huge |geo-textile bags are laid and filled.
“One they are all laid we still need several weeks to fine tune the structure. If weather conditions are consistently good we anticipate an autumn finish date.”
The reef will be about the size of a football pitch and contain 26,000 tonnes of sand, sitting about four metres from the seabed and 250 metres off shore.
Mr Pollock added: “Already our team of expert divers have seen marine life growing on the reef which is covered in fish eggs and home to spider crabs.”
Comments(32)
cooperman
says...
9:15am Fri 17 Jul 09
BourneRed
says...
9:30am Fri 17 Jul 09
Personally I think it is great that before it is finished it is showing signs of not only creating good surf, but also that marine life could flourish.
Bob49
says...
9:56am Fri 17 Jul 09
I spoke to three surfers on Tuesday eve and all said there was NO effect.
Perhaps BourneRed you could complain to the met office for telling us that it is going to rain today - in case it puts off visitors.
alukeonlife
says...
10:30am Fri 17 Jul 09
Bob49 wrote:"I spoke to three surfers on Tuesday eve and all said there was NO effect."
It is not producing anything other than a load of guff from those building it and idiot comments from those unable to cope with reality.
I spoke to three surfers on Tuesday eve and all said there was NO effect.
Perhaps BourneRed you could complain to the met office for telling us that it is going to rain today - in case it puts off visitors.
utter rubbish, from the clifftop on Monday you could clearly see the reef was amplifying the waves - on Tuesday it was even more impressive. I can't wait.
jobsworthwatch
says...
10:43am Fri 17 Jul 09
BourneRed wrote:Do you mean the pond life floating above it?
Congratulations Cooperman, it took you all of 60 minutes to make another negative post. Personally I think it is great that before it is finished it is showing signs of not only creating good surf, but also that marine life could flourish.
Bob49
says...
10:56am Fri 17 Jul 09
Even the bloke building it says " and we are now working on the ramp which pushes up the waves "
So they haven't even built that bit yet we are told it is working !
Never been explained either why last autumn we were told it would take a couple of months to complete (given the weather conditions and shorter days) yet here with better weather and longer days and we are told it would take five moths -from April to August.
As with the usual litany of excuses that is now changed " If weather conditions are consistently good we anticipate an autumn finish date.”
Perhaps the bloke building it should move his operations base to the cliff top.
BourneRed
says...
11:05am Fri 17 Jul 09
alukeonlife wrote:Agree, even when the sea is calm you can still see a slight break in the tide around the area of the reef and that is before it is finished.
Bob49 wrote:"I spoke to three surfers on Tuesday eve and all said there was NO effect."
It is not producing anything other than a load of guff from those building it and idiot comments from those unable to cope with reality.
I spoke to three surfers on Tuesday eve and all said there was NO effect.
Perhaps BourneRed you could complain to the met office for telling us that it is going to rain today - in case it puts off visitors.
utter rubbish, from the clifftop on Monday you could clearly see the reef was amplifying the waves - on Tuesday it was even more impressive. I can't wait.
No one is saying it is going to create massive waves, just that it holds the potential to create more surfing days than previously.
djd
says...
11:15am Fri 17 Jul 09
davep1
says...
11:58am Fri 17 Jul 09
arendea
says...
12:06pm Fri 17 Jul 09
I quote the expert to those doubting Thomases and Bobs - there is still hope :)
Chris...
says...
12:49pm Fri 17 Jul 09
I too go with the people in the know, the surfers. A life long surfer said only a few weeks ago, the reef is going to do nothing other than increase the marine life. It certainly would not increase the surf, maybe by 0,25 to 0.5 metres. Nothing compared what the surfers already get on a natural surf at Perrinporth and Newquay.
It cost a lot, some 3.5m for the reef alone, pluse another 9m for the rest of it. Waste of money. And today we hear that something else worthwhile to the town has been dropped because of the lack of funds and suppport.
Priorities Bournemouth, priorities.
arendea
says...
12:57pm Fri 17 Jul 09
Chris... wrote:Because the surfers are scienticially qualified to advise on this subject?
The wind direction on Tuesday was from the South and South West which with the choppy seas would have produced waves beyond the normal even with out a stupid canvas reef. I too go with the people in the know, the surfers. A life long surfer said only a few weeks ago, the reef is going to do nothing other than increase the marine life. It certainly would not increase the surf, maybe by 0,25 to 0.5 metres. Nothing compared what the surfers already get on a natural surf at Perrinporth and Newquay. It cost a lot, some 3.5m for the reef alone, pluse another 9m for the rest of it. Waste of money. And today we hear that something else worthwhile to the town has been dropped because of the lack of funds and suppport. Priorities Bournemouth, priorities.
I also know a LOT of surfers, being a surfer myself, and actually I get lots of mixed OPINIONS about the reef. And thats what they are, opinions.
Just like the rest of the comments on here.
I still say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating... we really will just have to wait and see.
time nor Tide
says...
1:35pm Fri 17 Jul 09
I fear something has happened in the construction sequence- the top layer became the base and the ramp up (meant to be below the smoothing layer) seems to be the top layer now - umm was somebody holding the plans upside down last year?
It could be just me that sees that?
Laurie H Marsh
says...
1:47pm Fri 17 Jul 09
An instant reef!
If the surfers cant use it the fishermen can!
Chris...
says...
2:31pm Fri 17 Jul 09
time nor Tide wrote:There have been reports that the layers have been laid in reverse order, which will have a far more negative aspect to the project.
“The base layer was |completed last year, the flat layer on top is now complete and we are now working on the ramp which pushes up the waves. Construction is on schedule; 11 out of 18 huge |geo-textile bags are laid and filled. "
I fear something has happened in the construction sequence- the top layer became the base and the ramp up (meant to be below the smoothing layer) seems to be the top layer now - umm was somebody holding the plans upside down last year?
It could be just me that sees that?
The warship idea would be a good one for marine life, and a good divng project.
Chris...
says...
2:31pm Fri 17 Jul 09
time nor Tide wrote:There have been reports that the layers have been laid in reverse order, which will have a far more negative aspect to the project.
“The base layer was |completed last year, the flat layer on top is now complete and we are now working on the ramp which pushes up the waves. Construction is on schedule; 11 out of 18 huge |geo-textile bags are laid and filled. "
I fear something has happened in the construction sequence- the top layer became the base and the ramp up (meant to be below the smoothing layer) seems to be the top layer now - umm was somebody holding the plans upside down last year?
It could be just me that sees that?
The warship idea would be a good one for marine life, and a good divng project.
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
2:34pm Fri 17 Jul 09
jobsworthwatch wrote:There was a time when the only things seen floating off Boscombe Pier were turds :-)
BourneRed wrote: Congratulations Cooperman, it took you all of 60 minutes to make another negative post. Personally I think it is great that before it is finished it is showing signs of not only creating good surf, but also that marine life could flourish.Do you mean the pond life floating above it?
davep1
says...
3:02pm Fri 17 Jul 09
Chris... wrote:12.5 million!!!! what a waste of money. Think of all the worthwhile things that could be done with that. This reminds me of the Emperors New Clothes. I suppose at that cost it was all about selling off the car park for that wimpy monstrosity. Someone will get rich out of this, bet it wont be Joe Public getting the kickbacks.
The wind direction on Tuesday was from the South and South West which with the choppy seas would have produced waves beyond the normal even with out a stupid canvas reef.
I too go with the people in the know, the surfers. A life long surfer said only a few weeks ago, the reef is going to do nothing other than increase the marine life. It certainly would not increase the surf, maybe by 0,25 to 0.5 metres. Nothing compared what the surfers already get on a natural surf at Perrinporth and Newquay.
It cost a lot, some 3.5m for the reef alone, pluse another 9m for the rest of it. Waste of money. And today we hear that something else worthwhile to the town has been dropped because of the lack of funds and suppport.
Priorities Bournemouth, priorities.
donedivin
says...
3:16pm Fri 17 Jul 09
The-Bleeding-Obvious
says...
4:41pm Fri 17 Jul 09
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:Its still the same only they're in wet suits.
jobsworthwatch wrote:There was a time when the only things seen floating off Boscombe Pier were turds :-)BourneRed wrote: Congratulations Cooperman, it took you all of 60 minutes to make another negative post. Personally I think it is great that before it is finished it is showing signs of not only creating good surf, but also that marine life could flourish.Do you mean the pond life floating above it?
pipistrollers
says...
5:40pm Fri 17 Jul 09
Roll on next election!!!
alukeonlife
says...
6:03pm Fri 17 Jul 09
KLH
says...
8:47pm Fri 17 Jul 09
The-Bleeding-Obvious wrote:Every day go down bournemouth pier and see the usual assortment of mutant rabbit turds bobbing about...
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:Its still the same only they're in wet suits.jobsworthwatch wrote:There was a time when the only things seen floating off Boscombe Pier were turds :-)BourneRed wrote: Congratulations Cooperman, it took you all of 60 minutes to make another negative post. Personally I think it is great that before it is finished it is showing signs of not only creating good surf, but also that marine life could flourish.Do you mean the pond life floating above it?
must get company from the real stuff though - it DOES float!!
time nor Tide
says...
1:28am Sat 18 Jul 09
maybe it was him that held the plans upside down and yeslled -no,no no, those are the first bags over there? dont argue with me i am holding the plans!!!
actually I'm sorry that I noticed the difference between the animation of what we assume the contracters were commissioned and getting paid to do and what they actually have done.
Do they still get paid if they dont build what the contract plans say that they are supposed to build?
(my car just turmed up and the wheels are on the roof with skids on the ground/ do i still pay for it?) but it still moves the salesman says!!
whats this all about?
David Weight
says...
7:10pm Sat 18 Jul 09
Having said that, marine construction is notoriously risky and hard to do accurately but ASR are doing a very professional job, and are keen to get some feedback with a view to doing a bit of fine-tuning. Lets not pre judge the situation. Like a complex building, the reef should be surveyed, snagged and maybe adjusted a bit. For example, there are one or two spots which are probably a foot or so too high, so could be drained of a bit of sand help smooth the surface out more.
Wessex surf club brought this proposal to the council in 95, and lobbied hard for it, so we are very keen to help in commissioning this exciting project.
We feel encouraged and hopeful.
David Weight. MRICS. Environment Secretary to Wessex Surf Club.
time nor Tide
says...
11:53pm Sat 18 Jul 09
That enabled the development that paid for the reef and perhaps another or an extension.
Bob49 has constantly questioned that -but i tend to agree with the premise that another reef may be justified if the benefits are proven.
Although - advice I have is that marine structures need to be so large, so robust and so huge as the ocean and its constant changing circumstances ( signals i was told) will overwhelm all ..in time.
Everyone hopes that the money spent is well spent -but why werent we told that the roof became the foundaions and the foundations became the roof?
Mr Weight is our champion here to look after our interests and we have ongoing confidence that he continues to have no conflict of interest in seeking best value for us all in a commercial arrangement.
no vested interest
says...
2:34pm Sun 19 Jul 09
How many times do you need to be told,Bournemouth is too far away from an Ocean Swell.By the time the Atlantic swells get to the lovely beaches of Dorset there is no ocean swell anymore because all the headlands in between have taken the power out of them.When the surfers around here listen to the weather on the radio they are waiting for an OFF SHORE wind and a decent ocean swell.An off shore wind holds the wave up and with the help of the ocean swell will give you 1-2+ metre waves.
An artificial reef will help create the perfect wave all surfers are after but you have to have an OCEAN SWELL to start with.The only time of year that the Boscombe reef will produce a good wave will be in the winter in storm weather which is dangerous.When I used to go down to the north coast of Cornwall n Devon with my surfy mates from Bournemouth back in the seventies,you could see the waves were completly different because of the un-diluted Atlantic swell that hits that coast.Look best of luck with it but why dont you just go live somewhere with some ocean next to it and not Le Manche.
I do and the only time I look back is when I have a laugh at some of the comments on this page,tis funny tho.
Evo80JH
says...
11:02am Fri 24 Jul 09
com/photoLab/viewPho
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Enough said. Now all the comments are just comments, if I tell you I've been windsurfing for 18 years and surfing for 20 years and I do see that the reef is going to work its just my opinion. However I have seen it working so to be honest it is going to work! Doubters you will see. Basically it will need a force 5 SW or W for a couple of days, it may well need the tide to be low or on the way out to see the best of it, however it will work. So doubters please pull your heads out of the sand and cheer up! We are the only country in Europe to have an artificial reef - This is massive news! be proud!
time nor Tide
says...
11:33pm Sun 26 Jul 09
Those that doubt that are not recognising reality. Of course the reef has to be built well to its intended fine dimensions to be able to realise that aspiration.
That is why it has taken so long to build - the time it takes to build it as it was meant to be built and to give the results that are due.
The rest is a commercial transaction of payment for results and no amount of comment will change the results -nor should it change the payment that is due for those results.
Everything from here to when the results are due is totally out of our control.
That is why specialists are being paid a lot of money to have it within their control.
At this point it would be quite stupid to insist the reef is finished this season because of angst. That will only distract the builders from being able to achieve what is the best possible result.
It may be the sequence of layers was in fact for the best. It may also be best delaying completion or fine tuning and adjustments of draining a foot or so of sand. That may have to take place in future years.
What other choice is there but support what is almost finished?
Finished to its best possible completion -no matter when.
But also then the expectations need to be kept in line with the reality of circumstances as Evo80JH clearly points out.
not time for pitchforks and spades yet!
tnT
Papa Joe
says...
10:35pm Sun 9 Aug 09
time nor Tide
says...
11:58pm Mon 10 Aug 09
Everyone cant wait -I am sure and we need to have patience.
the ocean took many many millenia to shape our shore and this small change will also take time to unfold to its best.
I am sure that getting the shape perfect to design specs is whats taking so long - that should take as long as it takes.
Hopefully the time, tide, swell and wind will all coincide often enough for plenty of surfers to feel it was worthwile.
when they do remember - tnT ...........
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KLH says...
8:57am Fri 17 Jul 09