On the first Monday of November 2009, the Boscombe Surf Reef, boasted to be the first artificial reef in the northern hemisphere, was officially declared open, a year late and at a final cost of more than twice the original estimate. The surfing jury is still out on the issue of whether or not it is doing what it was designed to do but surfers are keen to try it out.
Weather Conditions Delay Official Launch of Surf Reef
An artificial surf reef was first conceived in 1998 by the local authority as a way of regenerating the rundown area of Boscombe, Bournemouth, on the south coast of Dorset, UK. The contractors, who spent two years creating the reef out of large bags filled with sand, finally finished their work in September 2009 a year later than planned.
However, the official opening of the innovative marine project was delayed not just because of the necessity of carrying out final surveys, safety checks and training but also because of the wrong sort of weather conditions. There were hints and promises throughout October of an official opening “maybe next week” which never came to fruition.
Surfboard and Ribbon Mark Opening of New Artificial Surf Reef
Eventually, after a Saturday in which gale force winds and heavy rain battered the south coast, the sea conditions were finally in the right state the following day to allow members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to carry out rescue and recovery training. Consequently, on the morning of Monday November 2nd 2009, Bournemouth Borough Council sent out a press release publicising the fact the reef would be officially launched that lunchtime.
The short notice of the official launch of the reef, according to BBC Radio Solent’s The Jon Cuthill Show, had local news reporters rushing around to get to the beach by Boscombe pier in time to watch a top official from the Council's Leisure and Tourism department officially declare the facility open as he unwrapped a ribbon that had been tied into a bow around a surfboard on the beach.
Surf Schools and Surf Shops Opened Because of New Reef
After ten years of planning, problems and postponements, it is good to see this specialist seaside attraction finally completed. It is hoped that the sceptics who say it will never work are wrong and that the experts who say it will work are right. Whatever the outcome, the area has already seen some small, green shoots of economic recovery.
Surf schools and surfing equipment shops along with cafés and bistros have already been opened by entrepreneurs in anticipation of the increased number of visitors attracted by the opportunities the reef will provide. It is also expected that by next season, some of the hotels and guest houses in the area will start offering surfing holidays. Only time and favourable weather conditions will tell whether these enterprises and the reef itself will be successful.
Elaine Findlay - An expert cook, Findlay's passion for food is evidenced by the size of her kitchen and her library of old recipe books
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