In 2009, Bournemouth Council  built Europe’s first artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Dorset. The reef is 220m offshore and just east of Boscombe Pier.  The reef is made up of 55 giant sandbags and is the size of a football pitch.  The reef is not a wave machine. It doesn’t create waves from nothing, but acts as a ramp, pushing existing waves upwards and shaping them into better quality surfing waves. 

I hadn't seen Dan Earthquake since the Enduroman celebration evening so we decided to meet up and swim through the 'Boscombe Rapids'.  The beach area was pretty packed, and our two 7 and a half months pregnant swimming widows took a strategic observation point at Urban Reef bar avec hot chocolate.  Swimming through the reef was much more interesting than swimming to Bournemouth peer (mainly because we would have had to walk back and there is a bar and hot showers at Boscombe!!). 



There was a 4.5 metre swell and the water was down to about 13 degrees.  We swam out through the reef , got thrown around for 10 or 15 minutes, out around the peer and joined all the surfers waiting for the ultimate wave to arrive.  The common question from everybody was 'aren't you cold?', especially from the surfers wearing their 15mm dry suits.  Although surfing looks exciting, I can't see myself sitting on a board for 30mins just bobbing up and down waiting for a freak wave.

Back around the peer we went, and around 45-60mins later we were in the hot showers.  Things nearly went Pete Tong when Dan nearly slipped off his speedos in the changing rooms not realising that they were communal.  A brilliant day with great company.  Photo's coming soon.   Please click on the video below to see the story of the reef.