UK Beach to get wave reef

[Pete Dooley]

UK Beach to Make Waves
Posted Dec 10, 08 3:50 PM CST in Technology, World

(Newser) – A British beach town hopes to become the UK’s Surf City after the completion of an artificial reef that will boost local waves, Der Spiegel reports. Bournemouth has long attracted vacationers to its shore, but the gently lapping waves haven’t been enough of a draw for surfers. Projected 13-foot swells should change all that, though.

The reef, slated for completion next fall, will be built out of environmentally friendly sandbags upon a soccer-field-sized mat already anchored to the seafloor. It will be Europe’s first such installation, and the fourth in the world, after other similar projects in Australia and New Zealand. Officials hope it will draw about 10,000 surfers per year.

Source

[WARDY]

Even though lm into the latter stages of my surfing career ( life) , and at the moment enjoy the luxury of being the only surfer in my village in west java, l sympathise with the crowded, dangerous, and sometimes over aggressive ( something that annoys me, as the beauty of the oceans energy is lost) conditions, all over the planet. l personally like the idea of artificial reefs, not just sand bags though, iff by boulders, rocks and ( depending on location) dissused ships, boats etc. it will also, besides great waves, will attract and sustane sea life. The reefs being built to suit the locations prevailing swell directions, wind etc. Another plus, l guess would be commercial and economic gains, depending on local residents wishes. Overall, YES! for artificial reefs !