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Last year, the Homosassa River race featured fights, drinking and four arrests. This year, it wants to showcase fun for the whole family.
By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 1, 2002
HOMOSASSA -- There will still be rafts racing around Monkey Island during the Homosassa River Raft Race on Saturday, but organizers hope a new format will replace rowdiness with a family atmosphere.
Raft race organizers say recent crowds caused problems, which they hope to avoid this year by staging the beauty contests the night before and trying to persuade people to float their boats in the river to watch the race rather than crowding local tiki bars.
"We're trying to bring it back to what it once was," said David Marcocci, general manager of WXCV-FM Citrus 95.3 and WXOF Country Fox radio stations, which both sponsor the raft race.
"The past events, particularly last year's, have gotten away from raft race itself. Lately it's become where everybody was coming for everything else. People weren't as interested in the race," Marcocci said.
Marcocci said poor planning last year and the race's reputation for rowdiness and alcohol consumption detracted from the event's original purpose. He promised more security this year and an emphasis on families.
Boat patrols from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be on the river and sheriff's deputies will be assigned to security.
Past crowds have featured mostly young adults who packed riverside tiki bars, where the beauty contests were held and beer flowed freely. There were several fights and heavy drinking at last year's race. Four people were arrested, two on DUI charges and two for fighting.
This year the Miss Citrus 95 beauty contest and the Iron Dog contest for men will begin at 8 p.m. Friday at The Shed, a tiki bar at MacRae's of Homosassa. The classic rock band Electric Red will perform and there is a $5 cover charge.
The raft race is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. About 18 rafts will travel from Riverhaven Marina to Monkey Island and back to the starting line. Monkey Island is a landmark on the river between K.C. Crump and Homosassa Riverside Retreat. It has a lighthouse and is home to several monkeys. The race is a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Citrus County.