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1
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Surfability
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Whether the wave is surfable or not?
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The wave should be surfable (rides lasting >3s) by stand-up surfers of appropriate experience, (Hutt scale 5 and above).
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Yes – the artificial surf reef at Boscombe has successfully created a new surfing resource.
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2
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Wave Quality
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Ride length
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≥65m Right
≥20m Left
This ride length must be achieved with some consistency by surfers (e.g. >10% of the rides)
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Left – Yes
Right – No
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3
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Wave Quality
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Wave Form
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The expectation is that the reef will produce waves which have, “steep faced (steeper than the neighbouring beach) but rarely barrelling and suitable for competent surfers to execute standard manoeuvres”. A plunging wave is anticipated at take-off.
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Yes
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4
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Wave Quality
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Peel angle
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70o±10o Left
60o±5o Right
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Left – Yes
Right – Partially
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5
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Wave Quality
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Wave height amplification
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≥+20% on ambient levels
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Yes – providing the wave conditions are suitable to break on the reef and the tidal state is optimal.
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6
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Consistency
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Number of surfable days compared to the beach
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The expectation is that the reef will at least match the beach in terms of the number of surfable days.
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No – evidence indicates that surfing conditions are less consistent than the beach.
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7
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Surfer numbers
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Is the reef being surfed?
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A lack of surfing by surfers at the reef when conditions are appropriate for surfing at the pier will indicate sub-standard reef performance
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No – the reef is being surfed but less consistently than the beach.
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8
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Surf Quality
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Grade of wave
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Quality of surf on a given day is improved using ASR Scale:
Reef:
4-6: Waves <1m
6-7: Waves >1m
Compared to the Beach:
1-5
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Generally, the reef is suitable for level 5 surfers and above with level 6 & 7 surfers enjoying a higher number of successful rides:
5-6: Waves <1m
6-7: Waves >1m
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9
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Wave Quality
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Wave Quality
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A low number (between 1 and 5 days/year) of exceptional quality waves are produced on the reef.
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Partially successful, although ride length needs to be extended to fully satisfy this condition.
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10
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Conformation to design specifications
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Physical shape of the finished reef
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Crest height: 0m ACD
Length: 120m
Orthogonal Gradient: <1:15 to 1:20
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Crest height – No
Length – Yes
Orthogonal Gradient – Yes
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11
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Wave Quality
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Vortex ratio
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A plunging wave with a vortex is only expected during larger wave conditions (Hb>1 m) and primarily on take-off on the right. Given the design orthogonal reef gradient and the grading of the reef it is expected that the vortex length to width ratio should be >2.
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Not yet quantified but appears to be consistent with expectation.
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