We would like to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who has helped at our various events this year. Without your help we would not be able to raise the funds to support the RNLI in its lifesaving work.
If you wish to volunteer and help raise funds for the RNLI to help please get in touch with Phil Underhill, stating your availability (morning or afternoon), on 01462 436973 or at phillipj_underhill@yahoo.co.uk.
Crewed by Alex, Andrew and Richard, Honfleur made a recent trip across the Channel.
8th-July-Walton-Yacht-Club
The trip started at Honfleur’s home port of Walton Marina with the first stopping point being Ramsgate where the crew prepared for their journey across the Channel.
10th-July-Chart-Plotter
After a day experiencing the delights of Ramsgate they set off for the continent crossing La Manche via Knockdeep Channel in good sailing weather.
10th July Knockdeep
Navigating was reasonably easy as someone had put these really tall marker buoys on the sandbanks. So the instructions to the helm was sail between the wind generators.
10th-July-Honfleur-in-Dunkirk
After their cross Channel trip it was obviously time to celebrate the return to the continent at the quay in Dunkirk.
11th-July-Trouble-motivating-crew
Before the Captain could rally his shipmates to proceed to the next port of call along the coast the crew decided they needed to take on more refreshments.
After their rest the crew of Honfleur then preceded along the coast to Ostend
12th-July-North-Sea-Yacht-Club-Oustende
Arriving in Oustende the first “port of call” was the North Sea Yacht Club to top up (again) on the local beer.
There were complaints that the beer consisted mainly of froth but that didn’t stop repeat orders!.
13th-July-Ostend-Tourist-train
The next day the crew decided to explore Ostend and the various forms of alternate travel methods rather than sailing.
13th-July-Vagrants-in-Ostend
13th-july-Exercise-on-Pedal-Car.
5th-July-Da-Boyz-in-Bruges
Last port of call for Honfleur on this foreign trip was Bruges were despite all the other options available on shore again it seems the bars held the greatest attraction.
Having increased the GDP of our continental neighbours, mainly via beer sales, Honfleur returned to its home port of Walton. There is a potential that Honfleur wiill make another sortie to Europe later this year after the SOCA Solent Sailing in Company Event.
The talk at the meeting held at 7:30pm 11th May at the RNA club W G City was given by author Phillip K Allan
A talk in two parts for SOCA
Part 1 :- The Wooden World
An introduction to the 18th century navy – a world apart from society ashore, with its own customs, language, and culture. How sailors were distinctive and easy to spot – clothes, jewellery, language, uncut hair, different songs and dances, tattoos. The ships and those that sailed on them. How they were built, how they operated. Life aboard, diet and disease, press gangs and mutiny, animals, children, and women aboard.
Part 2 – The Wooden World in Action – The Battle of the Nile 
In 1798 the biggest fleet since the Spanish Armada left Toulon carrying a huge army under the new French Republic’s crack general, Napoleon Bonaparte, and vanished into the wide Mediterranean. Where was it going, and what was its target? A British fleet under their own young hero, Horatio Nelson, was sent to track them down. In an epic hunt from Sardinia, to Sicily, to Malta and beyond, the fleets finally met in an epic battle fought at night.
About Philip K Allan
Philip K Allan comes from Hertfordshire where he still lives with his wife and two daughters. He has an excellent knowledge of the 18th century navy. He studied it as part of his history degree at London University, which awoke a lifelong passion for the period. A longstanding member of the Society for Nautical Research, he is also a keen sailor and writes for the US Naval Institute’s magazine Naval History.
He is the author of the nine book Alexander Clay series of naval fiction set in the age of sail. The first book, The Captain’s Nephew, was published in January 2018, and immediately went into the Amazon top 100 bestseller list for Sea Adventures. He has recently turned his attention to the Second World War. Sea of Wolves is a novel set during the Battle of the Atlantic. A sequel, called The Wolves in Winter, was published last year.
| The Sporades Flotilla A detailed account of the Sailing Holidays Flotilla that 4 club members enjoyed on board a Beneteau 361, in September 2022. Presented by Terry Branston with the aid of numerous photos taken over the two weeks. |
The Talk will be given at the RNA Welwyn Garden City on Thursday 13th April at 7:30pm prompt.
SOCA 2023 Annual Review & AGM was held on
Thursday 10th March at RNA Welwyn Garden City
Despite the atrocious weather the club managed to successfully hold the 2023 AGM which was a relaxed, social evening which gave the retiring Commodore the chance to look back at the past year and for the new Commodore to discuss plans for the next season.
The meeting commenced with the Commodore’s review of the past year followed by the presentation of the club’s trophies.
Below are extracts from f the slides used by the Commodore for his review of the year.
“Talks / Presentations”
A retro talk using SLIDES of a trip from Portugal to Tenerife in the last century (1990s).
.
“Social Events & Quiz Events”
“Sailing in Company”
SOCA Barbecue at Hythe
“Other Events”
“Paul Redd”
The 2022 Trophy Awards were as follows
AstrolableThe Astrolabe Trophy (donated to the club by Roy Maynard) for a member’s presentation at a club evening.
Awarded to Ashley Cato, Barton Turf Adventure Centre for the best attended presentation of the year.
See the relevant post by clicking here.
Kelphil Bell 
The Kelphil Bell is one of the oldest awards within the club. It was awarded by the Commodore to Geff Briant, for his work on the amazing club website, club talks and assistance with technology.
Commodore’s Cup :- Awarded at the discretion of the Commodore to John Gardener, for his extensive cruising on Shrimper Skylark.
John could not attend the meeting so the cup will be presented to him by the Vice Commodore at the next opportunity.
Following the award of the Trophies, The 2022 Commodore stood down and the President, the previous Commodore, asked for nominations for the 2023 Commodore.
Andrew Davidson was appointed who chaired the rest of the AGM which started with the appointment of new officers. Then the minutes of the 2022 AGM and the Treasurer’s report were approved .
Then the officers for 2023 were elected.
The new Flag Officers for 2023
endorsed by the membership at the AGM.
2022 Commodore is Andrew (Right)
Vice Commodore is Geff (Centre)
Rea Commodore is Terry (Left)
The meeting concluded with a reminder of upcoming events.
“Future Events”
Followed by a reminder of the club’s Ruby (40 years) celebration
“Founded in 1984”
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and trust you have had a enjoyable sailing year which has certainly had its share of fine weather, lets hope we get the same next year.
The first club sailing event was the East Coast Cruise at the end of May which culminated in a dinner at Fox’s Marina Ipswich. Honfleur crewed by four SOCA members managed to make it followed by Stewart, Tanya, Paul Redd and Denise all of whom arrived by car.
25th – 28th May 2001 Cherbourg Rally
Paul had recently retired from work and had just bought a Cornish Crabber which he was looking forward to using in his retirement. This as we know was the last SOCA event Paul attended as he sadly passed away in September shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
He was SOCA Commodore for the year 1999-2000, I think that’s Paul at the helm of what I believe is a Colvic 28.
Tom. Sarah and Baby
Paul was a past neighbour of mine for many years at Becket Hall, Welwyn and joined the club soon after me. He had two young children Tom and Sarah who I was very pleased to meet again at Paul’s funeral.
Tom was showing off his latest 3 month old addition which he is holding in the picture above with Sarah standing alongside .
The reception was fittingly arranged at Pin Mill and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Our heart felt condolences go out to Denise for this tragic curtailing of their retirement years together.
The last yachting event was the South coast cruise arranged by Martyn Reed at Hythe Marina. This was a very successful event with 5 yachts all helped along by Martyn and Sean’s hospitality and the particularly fine weather.
Just to remind everyone the next meeting is on the 12 January 2023.
Tanya will be giving a talk on her experiences diving on the scuttled German warships in the freezing cold waters of Scapa Flow.
Commodore Alex Nicholas
The December meeting was held on the 8th of December and was well attended despite the weather conditions. This was the annual nautical themed photo contest which included the opportunity for a pre-Christmas social.
Nearly 120 photos from over 20 members were submitted into the competition, this made the voting very close with ties-breaking decisions having to be made in 4 of the categories.
The winners in the 2022 Photo Competition
Above are the six winners in the 2022 photo competition.
From left to right :-
Terry, George (at front), Paul, Tanya, Stewart & Geff
The competition for best photo was broken into six different Categories:-
1) Club People since the club was formed.
2) Seascapes
3) Artistic (with a nautical flavour)
4) Boats
5) Weather and Sunsets
6) Sailing Holiday
Below are the winning photos from the 2022 Photo Competition.
Categories for the Photo Competition:
1) Club People since the club was formed.
Club People – A very old Printed Photo that required scanning from Tanya
2) Seascapes
SEASCAPES – A photo taken by Stewart off Plymouth
3) Artistic (with a nautical flavour)
Artistic – A photo that could have been entered into (and won) many of the categories by Terry
4) Boats
BOATS – A picture from Paul from high on the mast.
5) Weather and Sunsets
Weather & Sunsets – A picture from George on the East Coast.
6) Sailing Holiday
Sailing Holiday – a picture taken on the wharf in Oban whilst Geff was on holiday in Scotland
Note a selection from the entries will form the basis of next year’s calendar 2024 which seeing the quality of this year’s entries means it will be highly desirable.
Also a raffle etc was held which made a healthy boost to the funds for the Commodores chosen charity which this year is BTAC.
The 2022 Laying Up Lunch was held at The Chequers, Bragbury End Stevenage.
The change to holding these events at lunchtime has been well received and ensured higher attendance from members.
The November meeting at the RNA W G City was given in person by Jeremy Batch from the Cruising Association.
The topic was :-
Going boldly: across, beneath and beyond the ocean by Jeremy Batch.
The meeting was very well attended and included some external guests from a local diving club.
Jeremy provided a very high tech and entertaining presentation that gave the answers to the following questions.
