[Sacrificial Pawn]

K, sorry if I am being thick here but...I don't understand this whole reef thing.

There are 2 types of break, reef and beach. yes? Fistral is a beach break. When they build the reef, will all of it become a reef break or will the area around it still be a beach break?

Also, will the reef ruin the waves breaking by the beach, so there will be no in between waves, only big from the reef and white water as they will have broken already

If I have got the wrong end of the stick please tell me or even better can someone explain!!??

Thanks

[seaslave1]

To be honest I don't think it will have much effect on Fistral. The way the plan looks, it will effect the beaches North of Fistral. Towan, Tolcarne etc. Hopefully, someone a bit more clued up can explain.

Ssx

PS Check out the thread 'Reef Update 2' posted by Alsone. Follow the web link and check out the details on the reef there.

[Alsone]

Hi Sacrifical Prawn,

Firstly, I am not a member of NARF, only an amateur supporter / reef enthusiast and so anything I say should be taken on that basis and if anything said is incorrect, then I apologise and welcome correction by the relevant experts.

As I understand things (in the simplest terms):

The reef plans (as they stand) propose that the reef is built between Great Western Beach / Tolcarne Beach. (One arm of the "v" shape reef reaching into each bay.) These plans may be adjusted slightly at a later date to take into account the gig rowing if necessary but I would not expect them to change substancially (although only the planners truly know).

Thus Fistral beach will be totally unaffected by the proposals (it will remain a beach break and its waves will not change in any way).

If everything performs according to the study by ASR, Towan beach should also be unaffected by the reef as the waves will break along each of the arms into Great Western and Tolcarne beaches respectively. These beaches will in fact then become Reef breaks by virtue of the fact that the waves are being broken and focused by the reef.

All the other beaches of Newquay including Towan and Watergate will remain beach breaks. (I know there is great concern amongst locals about preserving the Towan Wedge which is an excellent boogie boarding wave.)

The only real difference that may be noticed (apart from the obviously larger waves) is that the currents may be get a little stronger on Great Western and Tolcarne but it is not anticipated that the difference will be so substancial as to be dangerous. (It is inevitable with any surfing beach that you get currents as the water that is dumped onto the beach has to flow back out to sea somehow - all the beaches mentioned already have quite strong currents (in surf conditions) caused by the existing waves, they will just get a little bit stronger but should still be within acceptable limits and so should not pose a serious threat to swimmers etc).

The main visible difference apart from the better waves flowing down each arm, will be the area of calmer water that will appear between the arms of the "v" on Great Western and Tolcarne beaches this being the product of wave interference. Thus, yes, SP, there will be a lack of good surfing waves on Tolcarne / Great Western inward of the arms of the reef. The whole idea is that you surf the good waves that exist down the arms of the reef.

The wave height immediately outside of the break area on each arm of the reef may also reduce in height although this reduction should not extend as far as neighbouring beaches thus leaving their waves unaffected. It is proposed that these calmer areas be used for surf rescue launching as they will provide an easy way of getting out beyond the reef, thus potentially increasing safety.

Thus to sum up:

Fistral - Totally Unaffected.
Towan - Unaffected. Remains beach break.
Tolcarne - Reef will produce better waves (reef break). Increase in
current strength.
G. Western- As Tolcarne
Watergate - Unaffected.

Alsone.

[Sacrificial Pawn]

Cool

Thank you Alsone!! All has become clear!

[Sad?Old Hippie]

Tryin not to let t excitement run away wiv me ere...dus this mean u kno sumthin we down ere dont then Alsone...r they actualy gonna build this thing at long last or is it still in t thinkin about it stage?

[Alsone]

Sorry Hips - Unfortunately, I'm not privvy to that kind of information. As far as I am aware, the discussions continue and nothing has been decided either way - In other words the project is still on, in principle at least.

I believe the next step will be a full blown environmental assessment (following on from the feasablility study) and then finally when (if) that occurs and is published a vote amongst the people of Newquay as to whether or not they want the reef.

All of this assumes funding can be found either through Objective One (European development money), the lottery or both.

It could all fall apart at any of these stages of course.

Alsone.

[Sad?Old Hippie]

In t wurds of t King 'A Little Less Conversation A little More Action Please'

Build t bl**dy reef pleeeeeeeeeze....jeez...t powers that b cant c a gud thing if its in thier faces

[Alsone]

Agreed.

I personally think a little more openness / information from the Council wouldn't go astray either!

(Last news update on Newquay reef site November 2002! - I believe its 2004 now)

Alsone.

[Alsone]

Latest news, Unfortunately not on Newquay:

Bournemouth Borough Council have given the go ahead for the construction of a reef at Boscome. Detailed studies to commence in April 2004 and reef to be in the water in 2006.

Is also speculation that a series of reefs could be built along the coast of Halcrow as an alternative to the groynes.

Alsone.

[Sacrificial Pawn]

Am i right in thinking that once/if the go ahead is given, it's gonna be a long, long process and will takes years for the reef to be in the water, let alone any changes that may be needed .

I so hope Newquay gets it too Hippie, will hopefully in turn get rid of the louts like i've said before. I'm sure not many of the townies will wanna be coming to Newquay if it's over run with surfer's!!

[Sad?Old Hippie]

It's a bl**dy joke when Bournmouth builds a reef n t surf capital of t country dont

Said it many times...t powers that b ave their heads stuck up their ar*es so far they cant see anythin of sense

[just dan]

i totally agree that newquay would be so much better if it had a reef . but in all honesty its reall not needed as the surf down that way is allready good. i think that a reef in bournmouth is great as it would spread the surf around the country.so it is not all in one very distant corner. i may be a bit biased as i live nearer bournmouth but it is a good thing. without a doubt.
this is just my feelings about the whole thing.
personally i think we should get them in newquay and bournmouth. and anywhere else where it would work.
thanks 4 listening?reading
dan

[Alsone]

I agree Dan - there can't be too many reefs

The surf in this country is generally of cr*p quality compared to many places in the world. (I could list them but there wouldn't be room on this page - you all know them anyway!)

Just consider Fistral's score on the ASR quality scale of 4 and Tolcarne's score of 2 and then compare it to places such as Kirra Point (Aus) and Jeffrey's Bay (South Africa) which score 7, and I think you realise that even places like Newquay do need a reef.

As for Bournemouth getting theirs first Hips, I can only presume that this down to politics / funds. I believe Newquay proposed theirs first. (Bournemouth is larger and so presumably has much more money to throw at the thing).

I have to wonder as well if things have been allowed to die down deliberately because of all the doubters who all posted so much negative comment on the official Newquay site.

I heard that the reason why the site wasn't getting updated was to deny the doubters a voice / information. I also heard that the council considered closing the site completely because it was being used to generate so much negative feeling about the project.

Alsone.

[Sad?Old Hippie]

2 much talk not enuff action as per usual

Christ its starin em in t face...t surf capitol of GB n they wont build t bl**dy thing...jeeeeez...shud line em all up against a wall and shoot em...or betta still.....stick a mall up their jacksies

[just dan]

as i live in the east i can sat for sure that the tax is more ( i also lived down west before) so it has to go somewhere. i personally am glad it is going on a reef as it makes a change from the usuall half arsed skate parks etc we get around here. it will bring the surf scene further round the country and make it a bigger thing nationally as it is more acessible to the majority of brits then say scotland or newquay or south west wales. more off a popularity in surfing i feel can only be a good thing. i am writing this after i have been out since about 6 so may not make sense. but try and decipher it.
again this is just MY opinion so technically mean squat.
dan