Boaters Beware: Yacht Basin Off Limits During Grand Prix

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Boaters hoping to catch a glimpse of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg from the water will want to avoid the area surrounding the city’s yacht basin.

The U.S. Coast Guard, St. Petersburg Police and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are enforcing a temporary safety zone throughout the race weekend.

“The temporary safety zone will be in effect extending out to 300 feet from the basin sea wall of St. Petersburg Municipal Yacht Basin,” the Coast Guard wrote in an email to media. “The zone will be in place to protect personnel and vessels from the danger associated with a hot race course in close proximity to the water.”

The zone will be enforced between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Mariners will also be notified of the safety zone throughout the weekend on VHF-FM channel 16.

Special clearance into the zone may only be granted by Capt. Gregory Case, the coast guard said. He is the Captain of the Port of St. Petersburg. To find out more about requesting authorization, call 727-824-7506. Anyone who enters the zone without permission may face fines, the guard noted.

To find out more about the Grand Prix, check out this related story.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard

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