WED 10.09.2008 - ARTICLE: Bournemouth's new artificial surf reef
Construction update pr. 24.10.2008:
"The first part of section 2 is now completed. The next stage is to deploy and fill the second part of section 2."
Construction of the Surf Reef has been slow due to consistantly bad weather. However good progress is currently being made and the Council will be reviewing progress with ASR Ltd on a regular basis. We will provide updates should anything change.
It has been reported today (20.10.2008) in the Bournemouth Echo that Bournemouth could be in line for a second surf reef if the one currently being constructed at Boscombe proves a success. A new reef could be installed at Southbourne, primarily to help protect the beach from erosion.
"An exciting piece of public art has been installed at Boscombe Pier approach. As part of the ongoing £10million re-development in the area the sculpture, designed by highly acclaimed British artist Simon Hitchens, will be positioned at the newly built roundabout outside the pier entrance."
"After a rainy and unsettled start to the month, the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. Stage 2 of the reef construction is now underway and the outlook for the next week is promising. Perfectly calm sea conditions with little wind are essential for the building of the reef. This is because construction takes place in the surf zone and requires the use of heavy machinery and specialised equipment on boats and barges. Specially trained SCUBA-divers will be working in shallow water (3-6 metres). If sea conditions are too choppy it will become difficult and too dangerous to work. The second reef section is being laid today (09.10.2008), ready to be filled over the coming days. The reef will be completed once the fifth section is laid and filled."
"At last, swell has calmed down enough for ASR, the company constructing the reef, to have the short weather window it has been waiting for. The team of expert divers and construction workers deployed the reef section on Thursday morning (09.10.2008). As a result of the consistently poor weather over July, August and September Section 2 was divided into two parts, making it more manageable to deploy than one large section.
The first part of section 2 is now completed. The next stage is to deploy and fill the second part of section 2.
Our next regular surf reef review meeting is planned for Wednesday 15th October. We’ll be coming back to you with an update on the reef's progress after this date."
""The first reef section (1 of 5) has been laid, filled and completed. ASR are continuing to work on the deployment and filling of bags in the base layer of the reef. "
Slow progress is being made due to consistently poor weather conditions and we are monitoring it on a daily basis. As a result of the poor weather we have experienced over the summer months, the placing and filling strategy has been changed so that the second reef section has been divided into two sections. This is more manageable than deploying one large section in short weather windows. All the bags have been folded and loaded onto the placement barge, ready for the next good weather window.
Our next regular surf reef review meeting is planned for 10 October. We’ll be coming back to you with an update after this date."
As you might know, Europe’s first artificial surf reef is currently being built in Boscombe, Bournemouth this year and is due to be completed at the end of October 2008 (weather permitting). However, in the contract signed by the desinger Kerry Black, the latest acceptable completion date is 31.December 2008. The reef has a price tag of approximately £2.6m (rather than the original £1.359m price tag).
"The surf reef will act as a ramp, pushing waves upwards, doubling their size and improving their quality for surfers. As a result, the number of good surfing days will be doubled." Reference: www.thesurfreef.co.uk
CURRENT SITUATION
Latest development ( pr 10.09.08 ):
"The first reef section was transported on a barge from Poole to the sea-based construction site at Boscombe.
The eastern-end of the reef was attached to 5-tonne anchors on the seabed by a team of expert divers. The barge was then slowly winched along the reef site, allowing the section to gradually unfold and peel off into the water. Winches then pulled down the reef onto the seabed and secured it in place.
The reef is now ready for filling. Each of the 16 bags on reef section 1 will be filled one at a time. This takes between 1-4 hours each, depending on the size.Once this has beencompleted, section 2 (already built on-land) will then be deployed and filled and so on, until the fifth section is deployed and filled. Then the surf reef will be completed."
This is the fourth artificial surf reef in the world, the other three reefs are located in New Zealand (2) and Australia (1). The two in New Zealand are Opunaki and Mt.Maunganui (opened 6th of March, 2006. The #2 one in the world. Designed by Kerry Black, the same man who designs the one in Bournemouth). And the one in Australia is located at Narrowneck, Gold Coast. Having been completed in 2001, this was the first artificial surf reef in the world. However, as stated by the gold coast council, the reef's main concern was not to increase swell size, but to protect the beach against erosion. A local surfer/rock/emo musician from Bournemouth, who goes by the name of Stian Grorud has the following to say about the upcoming reef: "I'm just stoked, you know what I'm saying? Just stoked man, it'll be gnarly!!"
"Gone Surfing" is following the surf reef situation with hawkeyes, and will keep you updated on any major developments. Here's some videos and articles about the reef to keep you occupied in the mean time:
VIDEOS
First day of construction
Deployment of the first section of the Boscombe Pier surf reef (29.August 2008)
