Heading out under Bournemouth Pier

UK Surfing News

Europe’s first artificial surf reef - Boscombe Surf Reef – launched!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 November, 2009 : - - Boscombe’s long-awaited surf reef is now ready for use! Conditions on Monday 2nd November were perfect for surfing the reef. The RNLI undertook their training at the weekend (Sunday 1st November), and following this, it was just a case of waiting for the right weather to declare the reef officially open.

Jon Weaver, Marketing and Events Manager for Bournemouth Tourism said, “For once, the weather appears to be on our side. Almost no sooner than the RNLI have completed their training, the final stage we had to go through before we could launch, the swell is perfect – decent waves, around eight seconds apart with a gentle breeze. We couldn’t miss this opportunity so took the decision this morning at 10.30 to launch the reef.” He continued, “This means the reef is now officially open, and ready for experienced surfers to use at their leisure.” He added, “It is important to remember that the reef is not a wave machine – it works to enhance the conditions that occur naturally and so, when there is no swell elsewhere, there won’t be swell on the reef either.”

Barry Heathfield, RNLI Divisional Manager for Dorset said, “In addition to the usual high quality and standardised training in rescue and first aid all RNLI lifeguards undergo, Justin, Andy and Mike, the three RNLI lifeguards who will be patrolling the reef 365 days a year, have undergone further training on other surf beaches in the south west, in order to develop a thorough knowledge of rescue and recovery in surf conditions. However, the site specific training on the reef yesterday was essential in order for the lifeguards to understand the different currents moving around the man-made construction when the surf is breaking, as well as the depth of water on the reef at different stages of the tide which will affect their rescue technique. Conditions yesterday were great and we are happy that the RNLI lifeguards covered the variety of procedures and rescue scenarios needed to complete this phase of the training.”

The reef’s performance will be monitored by Plymouth University for the next year, to assess that it is delivering the surfing conditions expected – the quality of the waves (they should ‘peal’ rather than break in one go), and the number of surfable days.

Contact:
Bournemouth Tourism PR Department
Tel: 01202 451750

Europe’s first artificial surf reef

The results it will produce for surfers

Bournemouth Borough Council is proud to have built Europe’s first artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Bournemouth, the newest and most innovative attraction which puts Bournemouth on the UK surfing map.

The waves at Boscombe are generally small and break close to the beach; therefore surf rides are generally short. The reef is 220m offshore and so on days with good swell, decent-sized waves will peel down the right of the reef, creating a longer-ride of around 50m. An occasional swell from the east may also generate a short left-hand breaker with a ride length of around 15m.

Because the breaking section of the wave will run down the reef (peeling) instead of a wave breaking in one go (closing out), the waves on the reef are better for surfing. Therefore, the surf reef will see waves peeling from left to right down the reef (a right-hand break) and breaking with more power than on the beach.

The prevailing swell means the wave can begin peeling at the start of the reef and continue peeling until the end of the reef.  The angles that waves break across the reef are in the range 53º to 66º on the right hand wave and approximately 70º for the left hander.  The lower the angle, the more challenging the break is to surf.

The reef is designed to work on days with good ground-swell, coming from the South West, as opposed to wind swell, which creates messier, choppier waves. The reef acts as a ramp, pushing existing waves upwards and shaping them into better quality surfing waves. The reef is not like a wave machine as it doesn’t create waves. Similar to a natural surf break, it will only make a difference on days when there is already good sized swell occurring naturally in the right direction. If the sea is calm and flat, it will remain so. The reef is more likely to produce results in the surf season; late-September through to April.

It’s free to surf the reef. Changing facilities and warm showers are located in the Overstrand building. The Council will regularly inspect and maintain the reef and provide year-round lifeguard cover in partnership with the RNLI. The reef area is marked out by buoys to help control motorised watercraft.

Who is it for?
It is suitable for competent, confident surfers who are beginning to initiate and execute standard surfing manoeuvres on at least one occasion, as well as surfers who can do standard manoeuvres consecutively on a single wave. The surf reef is not for beginners. The reef is 220 metres out to sea, and so surfers need to be physically fit and competent to paddle out to it.

Performance Monitoring
Plymouth University have reviewed the design of the reef and found it to be well-designed and well-positioned. For 12 months from completion, Plymouth University will monitor:

• The shape of breaking waves – are they now peeling instead of closing out, and within the stated angles?  Are waves breaking with more power than on the beach?
• The number of surfable days, compared to previous years and the number of surfers at both the Pier and the reef areas, compared to previous years. They’ll do this through site visits and by monitoring data collected from on-site cameras.

Design specifics
Boscombe’s reef design takes into account a number of key factors to obtain the optimum solution for this specific location:
• Wave Climate - The waves at Boscombe are generally small and so the reef has been designed to increase the breaking wave height as much as possible and maximise the number of surfing days.
• Wind Climate – a high number of surfable days have south westerly winds which cause choppy sea conditions. Design criteria for the reef was that it should take this into account.
• Crest Height – The level of the reef crest determines the frequency that waves break on the reef. Due to tidal factors, it is necessary for the crest height of the Boscombe reef to be relatively high so that better quality breaks waves are achieved more often.

Ecological benefits
The reef is designed for surfing, using only sustainable power of nature to make it work. Research suggests the reef will also protect the coast from erosion. Already divers have seen a variety of marine life making the reef their new home, including cuttlefish, spider crabs and a variety of fish.
To monitor the progress and view regular updates of the reef, visit www.thesurfreef.co.uk.

For surf safety information visit the BSA website: www.britsurf.co.uk/surf-safety

Enquiries:

Jo O’Connell     
Bournemouth Tourism    
T: 01202 451 750    
E : jo.oconnell@bournemouth.gov.uk  

Georgia Turner
Bournemouth Borough Council
T: 01202 451 039
E : georgia.turner@bournemouth.gov.uk

BOSCOMBE SPA VILLAGE REGENERATION PROJECT & THE SURF REEF

THE BENEFITS

Boscombe, in Bournemouth has enjoyed an £11million make-over and now offers all the facilities expected by the 21st century surfer and holiday maker. Europe’s First Artificial Surf Reef, the first in Europe and the northern hemisphere is finally complete, making Boscombe the most innovative seafront in the UK. The reef is just one element of a much wider regeneration scheme which has already been successful in revitalising Boscombe.

The once-neglected 1950s Overstrand building has been renovated by Bournemouth Borough Council and HemingwayDesign and now houses the best beach huts in the UK; the Boscombe “Beach Pods.” Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway MBE of HemingwayDesign have interior designed the pods and added their creative touch to the Overstrand public facilities which now offers benefits to both surfers and beach-lovers; changing rooms, toilets and warm showers. The unique concrete Overstrand complex also hosts “Sorted” surf shop and school and “Urban Reef” glass-fronted restaurant.

Boscombe is the only beach in the UK to have 365-day RNLI cover. Lifeguards watch over the reef, even on Christmas Day, from a dedicated RNLI beach lifeguard station. The re-landscaped seafront boasts stunning public art by local artist Simon Hitchens, making it a popular meeting place. Land trains operate from Boscombe Pier, linking up to Bournemouth Pier every day during the summer. The transformed and award-winning Victorian Chine Gardens feature a children’s water-play park, mini golf course and café.

Dubbed by Wayne Hemingway as “the coolest pier in the UK,” Boscombe Pier is, once again, a fine 20th century pier with clean, angular lines. The previously derelict Pier end has been rebuilt and provides a good surf spot for beginners and intermediates, before they become competent enough to try out the reef.

The grade-II listed Boscombe Pier entrance is completely refurbished to an exacting standard and features quality Reefside catering and beach retail shop spilling out onto the piazza in front of the pier entrance.  The end of the pier offers stunning coastal views naturally framed by the Isle of Wight and Isle of Purbeck and a fine spot to fish from, or simply watch the sun going down over the reef.

The Overstrand and Beach Pods
The Boscombe Overstrand renovation sits at the heart of the development. The 1950s Overstrand building was a dilapidated concrete and wooden post-modernist complex, closed to members of the public for several years.

Wayne Hemingway of HemingwayDesign says: “We love Bournemouth and the Boscombe Overstrand project is one of the most exciting we’ve ever done. The Overstrand excited us both as designers, and as people interested in seaside regeneration. It’s the restoration of a cool, historic building. With the great work done on the Pier and Europe’s first artificial surf reef, Boscombe is big news.”

Regeneration 
The reef has been the catalyst for change. Already the seafront has been re-landscaped and transformed as a result of the £11 million Boscombe Spa Village project. Economic estimates show the value of the regeneration to be £41.5 million Gross Value Added (GVA). New luxury living developments such as Honeycombe Beach, ‘The Reef’ and ‘Waves’, have brought new money to Boscombe.  Boutique hotels such as ‘Urban Beach’ have flourished and unique restaurants such as ‘Reef Encounter’ and ‘Urban Reef’ have opened.

Jobs- Already 80 jobs have already been created on Boscombe seafront alone:
50 extra jobs at Urban Reef and Urban Beach
15 extra jobs at Sorted Surf Shop
3 jobs at the RNLI’s Boscombe site.
90 subcontractors have been employed in the 3-year build of the Honeycombe Beach flats; 12 long-term construction and sales staff (i.e. project managers, site managers).

The reef will extend Bournemouth’s holiday season through the winter – the surf season runs from late September through to April.  The ten-mile stretch of award-winning beaches in Bournemouth and neighbouring Poole has the highest concentration of different water sports activities in the UK.

Sports Facility
The reef can be used for a variety of water sports which will take place under different conditions. Surfers, body boarders and stand up paddle boarders will use it on days with good ground swell from the south west. Kite-surfers and wind-surfers benefit when there are strong winds, while calmer conditions will be ideal for diving and snorkelling.

Surf Steps and the Coastal Recreation Officer for the Council have each been working closely with schools and so far this year at least 4286 children from 21 local schools, 3 colleges, 9 youth centres and 5 scout groups have been getting out of the classroom and into the water, enjoying surf lessons.

Ecology
The size of a football pitch and with lots of nooks and crannies, the reef is already home to crabs, shrimp, cuttlefish, and lobsters and has become a breeding ground for a variety of fish, including bream, bass and mackerel. Scientists have also confirmed that the reef could attract dolphins to the area. 

Coastal Protection
While the main purpose is a leisure amenity, research suggests than a potential added benefit is that the reef may decrease the rate of coastal erosion by dissipating wave energy before it has a chance to hit the beach. Other artificial reefs built have provided good protection on the beaches.

Urban Reef
Urban Beach Hotel owner Mark Cribb, winner of this 2008 Dorset Business Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, bought the neglected Five Ways Hotel, Boscombe in 2005 and transformed it into a successful boutique hotel with an annual £1million turnover. Taking his proven formula of boutique bistro catering to the Overstrand, Mark has invested £500,000 to create “Urban Reef.” The chic glass-fronted restaurant has panoramic views of the bay as well as a ground floor café with terrace on the promenade and deli. Urban Reef serves fresh local produce, uses green technology and features an open-plan kitchen. Both Urban Reef and Urban Beach have contributed 40-50 extra jobs so far this year.

Sorted
Sorted Surf Shop has invested over £300,000 in new premises, store fit-out and warehousing. Sorted Surf Shop has been running in Boscombe since 2000. While retaining its original premises, the new Sorted units in the Overstrand provide a surf shop and school, complete with water sports and surf equipment hire and year-round lessons. Sorted have recruited up to 15 extra staff this year.
www.bournemouth.co.uk

Beverly White     
Resort PR Manager    
Bournemouth Tourism     
T: 01202 456 537     
E: beverly.white@bournemouth.gov.uk  

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Artifical Reefs - Surfersvillage