St. Pete Lats & Atts Cruisers Party 2005

     About six years ago at the Strictly Sail Show, then known as the Sail America Show, the idea of the Lats & Atts Cruisers' Party was born.  It was a simple enough idea.  Get a good sailing musical group on stage, throw a few pizzas out, and tap a keg or two.  We told our readers about it, and on the Saturday night of the show, a tradition was born.

     Now we have L&A Cruisers' Parties nationwide, as well as our International Party being held this year in Antigua.  But the granddaddy of them all, the one that started it in the first place, still takes the cake as the best cruisers' party around.

     We couldn't do this alone, so we asked a few friends to help out.  Sail America supplies us with a great place to throw the party, while Essex Credit, HRO Systems and Hunter Marine kick in for the pizza and help us bring in the Eric Stone Band.  Jerry Baltis, who arranges for the pizzas and oversees their distribution, helps us out from Metal Polish Pros, and then there are all the show exhibitors who kick in door prizes and loot for the party attendees.  But the people who make this the best party we have on our schedule are the cruisers.  They flock in from all over the United States and Canada for this one-night event.  It's amazing!

     This year there were about 1500-2000 cruisers who showed up on the Saturday of the St. Pete Strictly Sail Show, and long before the show closed, the crowds were forming.  A stage was set up right outside the Lats&Atts tent, and R.V. Parks opened the festivities.  We'd heard him at Atlantic Sail Traders' 25th Anniversary Party in Sarasota the week before, and made arrangements for him to help entertain the partiers.

     Then Eric Stone & The Stoners (Steve & Shelly Hall) took the stage, being helped by the steel drum sounds of Steve Hendrickson, and Gary Hass on the congas.  Long into the night, with about 250 pizzas and 22 kegs of cold brew, the party went on.  It was both mellow and exciting, with a conga line that got everyone on their feet.  Once again, the St. Pete Cruisers' Party was a huge success.  See you there next year?