Coast Guard members urge Georgia, Florida fans tailgating by boat to stay safe

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As increasingly folks head downtown for the Georgia-Florida recreation festivities, the town docks within the St. Johns River close to TIAA Bank Field are filling up as boaters safe their spots.

So many diehard Bulldogs and Gators tailgate on the water, and Coast Guard members are ensuring they’ve enjoyable — however do it responsibly and stay safe.

“There’s a group of us that always show up, and we’ve become pretty good friends,” mentioned boater Robin Doering.

On Thursday, Robin and Nancy Doering invited News4JAX onboard their boat the Rockin’ Robin. They have been mooring downtown for 25 years now.

“It’s really exciting, and we have some loud horns on our boat so we can honk those every time we get a touchdown,” Nancy Doering mentioned.

As the massive rivalry matchup nears, the waterways are positive to refill.

“We have all the safety gear. We have all of our lifejackets,” Robin Doering mentioned.

While the Doerings are cautious, not everyone seems to be as conscientious.

“We are out there on the water to make sure that everyone is safe,” Sean Gradin with the U.S. Coast Guard.

News4JAX on Thursday additionally went out with Coast Guard members from Mayport. They’ll be a part of the regulation enforcement presence this weekend, cracking down on harmful exercise, which incorporates boating underneath the affect and other people working unlawful charters.

“If we can’t see a clear relationship or if they can’t tell us how they know each other, that’s one way that we know if they are an illegal charter or not, as well as are they paying?” Gradin mentioned.

The Coast Guard caught the captains of a 53-foot boat referred to as the Dream Chaser eventually yr’s Florida-Georgia recreation, saying they have been chartering it out with fans with out the correct licenses, coaching or security tools. Owners and operators face fines up to $60,000.

The Doerings love a very good get together however mentioned they respect the heavy regulation enforcement presence on land and within the water — so everybody can have fun safely.

“It gets real rowdy when the Gators win,” Robin Doering mentioned. “Real rowdy.”

For information from the Coast Guard on Vessel Safety Checks, click here.