Air Boat regatta Under New Rules

April Fools Day brought fifty-eight air boats to Cedar Key for the GTO Performance Airboat fishing tournament. Following complaints last year, safety issues were addressed by the Cedar Key Commission. Therefore, returning air boats were required to beach in a designated forty yard wide area of the City Park beach. Furthermore, tournament rules required that the boats use idle speed in the City Limits, and that winners of the tournament be prepared to take a lie detector test.

Tounament Headquaters and designated beach area.

Prior to the 8:00 AM blast off, air boats lined the City Park beach and spectators lined the sea wall near the beach. One spectator, Beverly Dixon, from Rochester, NY, complained that the air boats started warming up at 5:00 AM. Norman Clifton, who organized the contest, responded to the noise and safety complaints, saying that one day a year people should share Cedar Key with air boaters at the tournament. He added that the tournament brings in $30,000 to $40,000 to Cedar Key. (The tournament winners take home prize money after paying a $150 entry fee and a $10 launching fee.) Clifton said that he would consider using the Sand Spit beach along "G" Street for next year's event which he has scheduled for the second weekend in April. Commissioner Pat O'Neal, who had oversight of the event said during the fish weigh-in, that the event had gone very well.

Stranded air boat above idle speed inside the City Limits.

Starting line (presumably) outside City Limit.

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