FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.- The Coast Guard will establish a safety zone from the U.S. Highway 98 Brooks Bridge West to mile marker 220 in the intracoastal waterway of Santa Rosa Sound here, beginning Saturday through Sunday.
The Coast Guard along with state and local agencies are scheduled to patrol the safety zone with small boatcrews beginning at 6 a.m., on Saturday and continuing through Sunday.
During past Billy Bowlegs’ festivals, there have been an increased number of boaters in this area and all boaters are urged to exercise caution if planning to attend.
“Boater safety is the Coast Guard’s main concern,” said Chief Petty Officer Hall Grimmett, executive petty officer of Coast Guard Station Destin, Fla. “We urge all boaters to boat sober and to wear their life jacket at all times while on the water.”
All commercial traffic wishing to transit the safety zone must contact the event incident commander via VHF radio on channel 16 for approval before transiting.
