| The Boscombe Surf Reef needs to be fine tuned |
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| Written by Editor at SurferToday.com |
| Sunday, 31 January 2010 18:05 |
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Europe's first artificial surf reef - the Boscombe Surf Reef - is under evaluation after several complaints from local surfers. The project finished last November, 12 months after the initial plan, needs to be fine tuned as surfers say the waves are too steep, breaking too quickly and the ride is too short. Also, at low tide, the huge sand bags are too near the surface and surfboard fins may rip off the artificial reef. Dorset surfers think that the perfect waves might kick off if the experts adjust Boscombe's surf reef. Everyone agrees that the equipment is only suitable for the bodyboarders who do not have to stand-up and bottom turn. "The surf reef was launched in early November 2009 and so it is still too early to say exactly how well it is working. As expected, the surf reef is still bedding down and is changing all the time and so it has not yet taken its final shape. The Council’s review on the reef’s performance is thorough, Plymouth University has been instructed to analyse the performance over twelve months and this takes place on a daily basis.", says Mark Smith, Director of Tourism. The results of 6-month the performance review will be released in March, and the 12-month report later in the year. The surf reef was built by New Zealand-based ASR and costed £3.000.000. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 01 February 2010 12:43 |
Anyone with even the smallest amount of knowledge regarding wave dynamics, or even how surf reefs work in general, will have been fully aware from the outset that this project was destined to fail.
It doesn't matter where you go in the world to do you surfing - Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Hawaii - the fact is that reefbreaks are INCREDIBLY fickle. The vast majority are only surfable given very specific conditions, i.e. the right tidal height, the correct swell size and direction and, importantly, the wind direction. Some are even more sensitive - perhaps only working on a pushing tide or a dropping tide.
The fact is that conditions in Bournemouth Bay are about as far-removed from ideal reefbreak conditions as could be possible.
I've been surfing in Bournemouth for 14 years and I honestly think I can count the number of days when we've had a solid groundswell and light offshore winds on 2 hands. Less than 10 days in 14 years.
The VAST majority of swell in Bournemouth Bay is locally-generated windswell. The predominant wind direction is southwesterly (onshore).
This provides the 2 biggest problems in regards to a working surf reef. Firstly, reefs DO NOT work under local windswell conditions - locally generated swell conditions create "lumpy", confused waves, approaching the beach at a variety of angles. For a reef to work you NEED to have groundswell from a specific direction - swell that is produced a long distance away and then travels over deep water until it hits the reef. This swell appears as lines of waves approaching the beach.
Secondly, reefs need light, offshore winds to work effectively. Offshore winds hold up the face of the wave and allow it to reach a steeper attitude before breaking. Onshore winds do the opposite, forcing the wave to crumble earlier than is ideal. It is INCREDIBLY rare for reefbreaks to work under onshore conditions. I cannot think of a single reefbreak in the world that works well under onshore conditions. Southwesterly winds are hugely predominant in Bournemouth Bay, with occasional southeasterlies. Both of these wind directions are onshore, meaning that the reef is unlikely to ever work as intended. Northerly (offshore) winds are rare and even rarer when there is swell.
In short, reefs require long-period groundswell, from a specific, constant direction, with a light offshore wind. Bournemouth Bay provides precisely none of these conditions and, as a result, this reef will never work. I have absolutely no idea why someone didn't point this out to the council!
up to date comments are worthwile reading to be well informed. Especially those from very log term local surfers.
"It should be no surprise to the 'experts' at ASR that the sand shifts around in Opunake Bay. Shaw Mead and Kerry Black stood in front of the public meetings and said they were 'world experts' and knew all they needed to know about the beach in order to make world class waves for the town. And what the effects of the reef would be on the beach system and sand flow. The reality is these guys are full of their own spin and have zero credibility as scientists, engineers or project managers. I would not trust them and they should be held accountable for all the public money they have wasted. "
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3332394/Sea-floor-shift-halts-reef-work
is where you will find a detailed study into a reef for this county. It is a detailed multidisciplinary study that has a suprise controversial conclusion. All should read it and find fault if it exists.
http://www.sortedsurfshop.co.uk/weather.asp
and one only for the reef at urbanreef
http://www.urbanreef.com/surf-reef-webcam.html
and a there also is a timeline of stories at the echo with the latest at
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4865749.Boscombe_surf_reef_report_due_in_February/
and the entire set of stories at the newspaper
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/search/?search=surf+reef