RNLI releases reef training video

The RNLI has released a video of a training exercise at Boscombe.
Lifeguards practiced how to launch a recovery jetski and rescue a surfer in trouble on the reef.
RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling the reef during daylight hours 365 days a year following its launch earlier this month.

Surf reef launches in haste

The surf reef was launched this week, although you may not have noticed.
After weeks of waiting, the council seized the opportunity the moment the swell was creating waves over the £2.68m structure.
Councillors raced to the beach to hastily conduct an opening ceremony in front of no one except a handful of reporters.
Bodyboarders dutifully demonstrated its usefulness but many surfers expressed concern and disappointment over the high speed and lack of longevity of waves coming over the giant sandbags.
One board rider said it was almost impossible for stand-up surfers to catch a wave there, although it was great for the most experienced body boarders.
Another body boarder said he had been caught out on the reef and ended up being thrown around under the water, hitting the reef several times.
Despite the concerns, plenty of people seem to be enjoying the new addition. Boscomites are also grateful that the construction site has finally disappeared from the beach.

Surf reef nears completion

Bournemouth Borough Council has said Boscombe's surf reef is close to completion.
The local authority's media team said the final phase of construction would include a "crucial" bathymetric survey (although no explanation was offered as to what that means).
The remaining sand will be distributed across the rest of the beach ahead of next week's Air Festival.
Additional waves are visible on the site of the £3million reef, however, the best and most popular surfing spot still seems to be on the west side of the pier.

Twelve cops + one drunk = overkill

A small crowd gathered on Boscombe seafront today after no less than five police cars and 12 officers arrived to deal with a man sitting on top of a giant sandcastle.
The man, who had obviously been drinking, had been sitting on top of the giant sand pile which is being used to build Boscombe's surf reef.
The sand pyramid has become popular with young people who consider climbing it an amusing challenge for a Saturday night.
As soon as he became aware of the trouble he'd caused, the man - can in hand - slid down the pyramid to the throng of waiting police below.
One officer joked: "It's a competition to see how many police officers you can get in one place."
Unfortunately for the two policemen left to make the arrest, the man was too drunk to scale the fencing and found himself trapped inside the construction compound.
He had to be escorted to the compound gate.

High demand for surf pods

More than 400 people have registered interest in just 59 'surf pods' in Boscombe's Overstrand building within days of the price tags being announced.
Estate agent Savills announced the price of single units at £64,995 and £89,995 for a double.
The 1950s building has been refurbished under the direction designers of Wayne and Geraldine Hemmingway. It originally contained 72 single beach huts but around half of them have been combined to create larger units. Many have balconies overlooking the beach at the surf reef construction site.
Wayne Hemmingway said: "The Overstrand excites us both as designers, and as people interested in seaside regeneration. It’s the restoration of a cool, historic building. With the great work being done on the Pier and Europe’s first artificial surf reef, Boscombe is about to become big news."
The surf pods are nearing completion but only half will be offered for sale. The remainder will be available to rent through Bournemouth Borough Council.
Savills is organising a sales event for the surf pods on May 15.

Beach restaurateur ignores recession

The owner of Urban Beach Hotel has said he would have preferred to open his beachside restaurant two years ago.
Mark Cribb, who has won a contract to open a restaurant in the refurbished Overstrand building when it opens next spring, says Boscombe's regeneration will press ahead despite the credit crunch.
He said: "Nobody wants to open a restaurant during a recession but sometimes opportunities present themselves and they ignore what's going on in the wider economy, as does Boscombe's regeneration, so we have to do it now.
"Hopefully in two or three years we will look back and say, 'well, it was difficult but it's all been worth it'."
Mark said he was disappointed about the delays to the surf reef but believed it was not the "be-all and end-all" of the town.
The new restaurant will be called Urban Reef and is due to open on Thursday, April 9, just before Easter.

Council publishes press enquiry online

Bournemouth Borough Council has taken the unusual step of publishing its response to a press enquiry on its website.
The response to questions from the Bournemouth Echo follows intense media attention yesterday about the late completion of Boscombe's surf reef. The post, which includes the questions asked by the Echo, aims to set the record straight over speculation that contractors would incur penalties over construction delays. Completion of the surf reef has been put back until next year.

Surf reef delayed until 2009

Construction of Boscombe's surf reef will not be completed by New Year as expected.
Bad weather and heavy swells has already hampered New Zealand contractor ASR and the company has conceded that conditions will only get worse as winter draws in.
Bournemouth Borough Council is currently in negotiations over a new target date for the reef's completion. Engineers need to wait for several consecutive days of calm weather before work can recommence.

Boscombe surf reef

The first section of an artificial surf reef was laid near Boscombe Pier at the end of August. The reef, designed to improve conditions for surfers, is the first of its kind in the northern hemisphere. This video, by www.hallmarkproductions.com, shows how it is made.
Work has been delayed by strong winds and heavy swells so engineers have amended the plans by dividing the second section of the reef in two. This should allow them to complete the next stage sooner, instead of waiting for several consecutive days of good weather.

Is Boscombe The New Sandbanks?

BBC Hampshire discusses whether Boscombe will become the new Sandbanks when the surf reef is finished.
Click here to listen.