St. Petersburg Boat Show 2012

The St Petersburg Boat Show was the site of our first ever Cruisers party, so it was little surprise this year as cruisers gathered from all over to celebrate the 14th annual Cruisers Party, and the first issue of Cruising Outpost! The folks at Show management outdid themselves when they opened the Cocktail Barge as the location for this years event. An estimated 1,000 people filled the barge, and the level of the barge dropped over 14 inches! Fortunately it had over 18 inches of flotation, so all stayed dry!

The entertainment was once again handled by the Eric Stone Band, complete with Steve Hall on the lead guitar and Shelly Hall handling backup singing, drums and tambourine. This years event was sponsored by a great group including Mack Sails, Harken, Peterson Marine, Forespar, Copper Coat Sailology, Murray Yacht Sales, Massey Yachts, Kanberra Gel and Dream Yacht Charters.

Dream yachts donated a 1 week Caribbean charter for a grand Prize for the raffle, which benefits the refit of the Charles W. Morgan atMystic Seaport Museum, and Peterson Marine, with the good folks at Spectra donated a brand new Spectra Watermaker. Sailology donated a Winchrite, Steve Bowden donated a Sat Phone, and in all the marine industry donated over $15,000 worth of raffle prizes.

This event has become such a well known cruisers gathering that we had one couple who flew in fromMinnesota, and another group that flew in fromPuerto Rico, just for this party! How kewl is that?

Over 120 pizza’s and 7 kegs of Budweiser were consumed, and then the Gosling’s bar opened up to keep things going, and Eric Stone rocked the barge well into the night.

Our new “Founders Circle” was well represented at this event, in fact, both of the Grand Prizes were won Founders Circle members. Maybe there’s something to this Karma thing after all?

See the party pictures on our Facebook Page.

Special thanks again to all the sponsors that helped to put on this great event!