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”

• May Stewart Warren presented “Three Men in a Boat“. A retro talk using SLIDES of a trip from Portugal to Tenerife in the last century (1990s).
• September Geff Briant presented ISW Shrimpers Rally in Scotland.
  
  
  John Gardener & Geff Briant took SKYLARK to Largs to join the 2022 International Shrimper Rally.
  
  
  
  
  
  October Ashley Cato gave a talk on the work of the
  Barton Turf Adventure Centre.
  
  This was the chosen Commodores; charity for 2020, 2021 & 2022.
  
  
  
  
  
• November Going boldly: across, beneath and beyond the Ocean
  
  A well attended meeting where Jeremy Batch presented a
  very high tech and entertaining topic.

“Social Events & Quiz Events”

• April SOCA Fitting Out Lunch at the Crown Aston End.
• April QUIZ NIGHT. Started with a paper/oral based Quiz (Nautical based) followed by a group discussion on planned sailing/boating for the 2022 season
• June Fish & Chip Night June Social at RNA Included a group quiz on “Night Lights”
• July Social at RNA Welwyn Garden City
• August A social evening held at Tanya and Stewart’s house. The food provided by Stewart and Tanya was much appreciated by all.
• November The 2022 laying up lunch was held at The Chequers, Bragbury End.
• December SOCA 2022 Photo Competition Winners were Terry, George, Paul, Tanya, Stewart & Geff, a selection from the entries will form the basis of next year’s calendar 2024.
  A raffle was held which made a healthy boost to the funds for the Commodores Charity.

“Sailing in Company”

• May 28-29 May Sailing Weekend (East Coast).
  
  
  The East Coast rally was arranged based at Foxes Marina,
  River Orwell for berthing and dinner on Saturday 28th May.
  
  
  
  
  
• September SOCA South Coast Sailing Weekend
  
  

  SOCA Barbecue at Hythe

  A very enjoyable and well supported sailing event was held mid September.
  It started for most from Hythe Marina on Saturday 10th September,
  Cowes on Sunday 11th September. whereas some of the boats had
  congregated from further afield.
  Attending craft were Ariel Spirit (from Hythe),
  Hypertonic (from Southsea), Jetstream (from Port Solent),
  Saluki (from Chatham)
  & Skylark the smallest and travelled the furthest (from River Crouch).

“Other Events”

• Martyn & Sian move South Ariel Spirit Sails South to new Home May 2022
  
  
• Links with NOSCA and BOSG
• Attendance of BOSG Commodore Peter at SOCA South Coast Sailing Weekend
• Contributions to Website
• A Guide to Cruising Around GREECE Supplied by Wendy & Bob from NOSCA

“Paul Redd”

• October Eight Bells sound for Past SOCA Commodore Paul Redd
  
• When a sailor has died they can be honoured with the sounding of eight bells;
  meaning “end of the watch”.
  _ _     _ _      _ _      _ _

The 2022 Trophy Awards were as follows

Astrolable
The 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.

 

Joseph Evanson Trophy 

The Joseph Evanson Trophy awarded for the best log / navigation log description during the year. 

This was awarded to Alan Wolfe,  for his 1 man and a dog trip on Hypertonic  to the Solent.  A description of this can be found in the post 

South Coast Cruising in Company  which details Hypertonic’s Trip to the Solent

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”

• SOCA Fitting Out Lunch Saturday 1st April
  Arranged for lunchtime, 13:00 at The Station Pub at Knebworth.
  Details to be sent out before start of March when the spring menu is announced.
  
  
• Sailing in the Greek Islands 2022 Thursday 13th April
  A talk by Terry on the flotilla sailing holiday that was enjoyed by various SOCA members.
  
  
• The Wooden World’ – the inner life of the 18th century navy.
  Thursday 11th May RNA Welwyn Garden City
  
  
  
  
  Presented by local Author Phillip Allan

Followed by a reminder of the club’s Ruby (40 years) celebration

“Founded in 1984”

• SOCA was first formally launched on 8th March 1984.
• The Committee has decided to celebrate the 40 year Anniversary of SOCA.
• There is already a web page set up for this on the SOCA Website “History”