Bournemouth Artificial Reef Fail
Way back in 2000 I think it was I was puzzled by the announcement that an artificial reef was to be constructed at Bournemouth with the intention of transforming the area into a surfers paradise.
Now we learn that the artificial reef has failed to create waves in the English Channel – one of the least wavey places in the UK
No Waves at Bournemouth
Bournemouth does not get good, consistent swell. No swell = no surf no matter how many sandbags you dump on the sea bed.
Bournemouth is on the Southern coast of the UK. Exposed to what is ultimately a fetch limited shallow water undeveloped sea state that is the North Sea/Channel. To make it worse, the localised currents from the Channel disrupt and interfere with any wave that attempts to ‘develop’.
End result? No regular waves with which to surf on. Regardless of how much diamond coated sand is laid out. This is why only short sharp and random waves are noted instead of long crested regular waves.
The failed project was 1.3 million over budget and delayed by 12 months.
How was an initial budget of 1.7 million approved for filling 55 sacks with sand and dumping them on the sea bed?
And how could this possibly have taken 12 months longer than expected?
Anyway here is a glorious photo of Bournemouth going off big time:
Sad Bournemouth Surfer
May 20, 2010 4:17 pmThere’s more….!
I’ve got a couple of schemes Bournemouth Council might be interested in.
1. I have invented a machine that makes the sky go dark at night, a snip at €2.5 million.
2. Second hand seagulls, 2,000 of them, €250 a pop, absolute bargain.
I’m off to Newcastle with a job lot of anthracite right now, but you know where to contact me on my return. I’ve no doubt you’ll find my offers too good to refuse; after all it’s not your money is it?
Fellow Pasty Muncher
June 8, 2010 2:24 pmDude – the only waves you’ll get in Bournemouth are Mexican waves in the sports bars.
Ed
July 28, 2010 10:51 amPMSL – Bournemouth was never going to be Croyde or Fistral really. So how much did they eventually spend, €3m?? What a waste of money. I have got a good idea, they could do exactly the same thing at Croyde low tide to reduce the wave size and stop so many grockles from drowning!