There were nearly 200 L&A readers who showed up for the Eric Stone Concert on the beach, in Antigua.  Sunsail's Club Colonna played host to this event, and it was action packed as well as almost too much fun.

A lot of folks came in early to enjoy Antigua.  Some came in two weeks early, and chartered a boat to explore the islands, but by Saturday the resort was almost full.

During the day folks were pretty busy with the Hobie Cats, Lasers and Open 16 sailboats.  Those who weren't sailing were busy exploring nearby St. John, or just hanging out at the beach listening to Eric Stone and his guest Steve Hall set up and practice for the evenings show.  Steve's wife, Shelley joined in for harmony and played the drums.  The plan was to record this session for a live album, and they brought a complete portable studio and their sound man, Alex.  As they setup the sounds wafted over the beach and pool area where folks were hanging out enjoying the sun and sea.

Around 1:30 on Saturday our hostess with the mostest, Fiona, gathered everyone to explain the other activities planned for the Lats & Atts folks.  Besides the concert that night, there were other fun things in the offing.  There were sign-up sheets so folks could pick their activities.  A trip to Shirley Heights, a voyage on the pirate Ship Jolly Roger, as well as an island trip to Prickely Pear.  All of these sounded inviting, and rum seemed to be featured at them all, as well.  At the end of the informal meeting Dean from Pocketmail started to demonstrate their traveling e-mail system, and soon everybody was either watching the demo or heading out to the beach and boats.

Saturday night at 7pm the people met on the beach and there were large vats of rum punch and vodka punch.  Folks were exchanging stories of what they did that day, and then the sounds of Eric Stone & the Stoners started to come from the dinner area.

People filled their glasses from the vats and drifted off the beach to where the music was coming from.  On the way they passed the large barbeque area and saw steak, chicken and lobster grilling over the coals.

For the next 45 minutes it was a feeding frenzy.  Lobsters and steak disappeared, and soon everyone started to dance to the music.

As the evening progressed a lot of the people who worked there started to join the party, and after a couple hours it was in full swing. Christy from Florida, and Sinbad from Washington, were forcibly “volunteered” into tattoo duty, putting on temporary Lats & Atts tattooes'  It turned into a contest to see who could put it in the “best” spot.  Breasts and butts seemed to be the favored locations, but there were a few bald heads that were adorned, as well as some foreheads, arms and legs.

About 10PM the people who we'd rented the PA system from wanted to start taking it down.  As the party was in full swing, we convinced them to let it go for a couple more hours.  Looking at the near 200 people and picturing what it might be like if they tried to stop the party, they agreed to let us keep playing.

By the end of the evening, and in the early morning hours, folks drifted out to the sand, or hung around and danced.  It was perfect weather, and a perfect location for what turned out to be the most perfect cruisers party and concert anyone could imagine!

The next day a bunch of us took out the Pirate Ship Jolly Rogers.  Talk about a party!  Toio much fun, too much rum pubnch, too much dancing, to much singing and too much rain!  What a blast!

So next year how do we plan to top it?  Well, how does Vava'au Tonga sound??