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Boaters will see new regulations
By Lisa Newell Splash! magazine
Although the next big weekend for Pensacola Beach will be celebrating Independence Day, representatives from local agencies met last week with Santa Rosa Island Authority General Manager Buck Lee to establish a safety plan for the annual Blue Angels Airshow.
Boaters will see some new regulations, as traffic entering Little Sabine Bay will be "exit only" after the show begins and for one to two hours after the show, at the discretion of local law enforcement officers.
A no-wake zone will be established on both sides of the Bob Sikes bridge.
"A no wake zone will eliminate the possibility of boats flipping or hurting someone," Lee said.
Extra patrols will be on hand to make sure there are no boaters operating under the influence.
"Boaters who are drinking are a danger to the families trying to come out and enjoy their day," Lee said.
Representatives from the Fish and Wildlife Commission, Escambia County Sheriff 's office, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Escambia County Emergency Operations Committee, Escambia County Fire Department, Midway Fire Department and Rural/Metro Ambulance Company, among others, sat in on a meeting to determine safety issues for the weekend which typically attracts 50,000 to 100,000 spectators by boat and car each year.
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