Safety zones for Blues’ air shows

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. - The Coast Guard is scheduled to set up two temporary safety zones – from July 8-12 and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. - in portions of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and Santa Rosa Sound around Pensacola Beach during the annual Blue Angels’ air show over the Gulf of Mexico. The GoM safety zone includes all waters 1.75 nautical miles east and 1.5 nautical miles west of Pensacola Beach’s Gulf Pier and extending 1,000 yards south of Pensacola Beach. This safety zone is for the protection of persons and vessels on navigable waters during the air show. A portion of the Santa Rosa Sound safety zone includes waters from Deer Point to Sharp Point and within Little Sabine Bay. The CG has added a new safety measure: A 200-yard no-wake-zone all around the Bob Sikes Bridge that will be enforced during rehearsals and air show. Vessels seeking to enter Little Sabine Bay for two hours following the air shows must contact the on-scene Captain of the Port via VHF channel 16 for authorization. Vessel traffic may contact the CG on VHF-FM Channel 16, the Patrol Commander at CG Station Pensacola at (850) 453-8282 or Coast Guard Sector Mobile's Captain of the Port at (251) 441-5976. (Source: GC District 8 07/07/15)