2023 PROGRAMME

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When	What	Details
December	Meeting / Competition	SOCA 2023 Photo Competition The annual nautical themed photo contest which included the opportunity for a pre-Christmas social. A selection from the entries will form the basis of a future year’s calendar.
November	Social	SOCA held its 2023 Laying Up Lunch at the Station Pub Knebworth. The event was well attended and offered an opportunity to catch up with old friends.
November	Meeting/ Presentation	Jeremy Batch gave one of his very interesting talks. Jeremy’s talks are always very informative and enjoyed by all attendees. The topic was Sailing into the Electronic Age Jeremy has recently retired from the Cruising Association after 23 years service.
October	Meeting/Presentation/ Social and Quiz	Honfleur returns to the EU. Presentation was given by Andrew (Commodore) and Alex (Ex-Commodore) on their recent expeditionary visit to the EU on Honfleur.
September	Sailing	September South coast “Sailing in Company” As is normal when sailing the weather intervened to shorten this event. With both Jetstream and Ariel Spirit having to cut there planned sailing short due to very high winds.
September	Meeting/ Presentation	Honfleur returns to the EU. (Delayed) Due to technical issues this presentation has been moved to October meeting. In its place the attendees held a social at the RNA.
August	Social	Thanks to Richard and Norma for organising the Summer BBQ at their house in Quendon. This was a well attended event considering it is in the peak holiday season. The well prepared meat was appreciated by the guests and there was sufficient for numerous Doggie Bags at the end of the evening.
July	Social	Due to most members being on holiday or boating a social was organised. A walk followed by a meal at Stewart and Tanya’s.
June	Meeting/Social Night	As is usual in the sailing season many members were away sailing taking advantage of the good weather. Therefore an informal drinks and chat was held at the RNA in Welwyn Garden City.
May	Sailing	May Sailing Weekend (East Coast). Spring Bank Holiday cruise held in conjunction with NOSCA on the East Coast with dinner at Walton and Frinton yacht club. .
May	Meeting/ Presentation	The Wooden World’ – the inner life of the 18th century navy. Presented by local Author Phillip Allan This was a very interesting and informative presentation given by a very entertaining speaker this was a talk in two parts especially for SOCA which by coincidence was held in the “Nile Room“. 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.  Please click here for more details on his website
April	Meeting/ Presentation	Sailing in the Greek Islands 2022 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.
April	Social	SOCA Fitting Out Lunch Held at lunchtime at The Station Pub at Knebworth. The event was well attended and the good quality food much appreciated.
March	AGM / Presentations	SOCA AGM This included the Commodores Report and presentation of trophies plus appointment/election of the new flag officers. New blood on the committee is always welcome so please volunteer if you have an interest in keeping the club going.
February	Meeting/ Presentation	In Search of the Northern Lights Dave Arnold chronicled a very successful cruise that he and Liz made (in comfort!!) to Northern Norway in January 2022. Dave shared photographs of the aurora event as it unfolded, he also outlined the science behind the spectacular light show. Both Liz and Dave are keen photographers so the presentation had some interesting shots at ports and along the Norwegian arctic coast in winter.
January	Meeting/ Presentation	Diving at Scapa flow. A talk, with lots of YouTube videos by Tanya on her experiences of diving in Scapa Flow in the Orkneys in 2022.