SOCA held it’s 2025 Fitting Out Lunch at the Cowper Arms on Saturday 29th March. There was a very good attendance with 22 members attending the very convivial gathering.
The Commodore, Terry, took the opportunity to thank the attendees and outlined the plans for SOCA events over the coming year.
The outgoing Commodore also presented the Commodore’s Cup to Peter Sackett who could not attend the2025 AGMwhere the cup was awarded to him.
The final action of the Fitting Out Lunch was for Geff to remind the attendees of his choices for the Commodore’s Charity for 2024-2025. It was decided to donate £400, £10 for every year of the 40 years SOCA had been in exsistence. This has been split evenly between the RNLI in recognition of it’s 200 year anniversary. With another £200 being presented to Grafham Water Sailability. Geff presented a cheque to Pauline who is a long time SOCA member and key member of Grafham Water Sailabilty.
SOCA held its Laying Up Lunch at the Cowper Arms in Welwyn North. Eighteen members were in attendance for a very enjoyable and convivial meal.
The autumn gathering followed the recent, successful, practice of holding the event at lunchtime rather than in the evening as this suits the majority of the members. In addition the Cowper Arms has the advantage of being very close to Welwyn North Station for those who wish to arrive by train.
This event was scheduled so we could celebrate that March 2024 was both the 200th anniversary of RNLI’s formation and the 40th anniversary of SOCA being formed. The planned presentation on the RNLI had to be delayed to another time due to the presenter being ill, (he has offered to conduct his presentation at a later time). However in its place SOCA held a RNLI themed evening for its September meeting, including showing some videos available on the RNLI website and a few group quizzes,
The main part of the evening was a presentation of a cheque to the Chairman of the RNLI Hitchin & District Branch of the RNLI, John Pearce. The majority of the £260 that was donated was from donations from individual members with a top up from the Commodore’s charity fund. After the actual cheque, (rather than the one in the picture) was handed over John gave a quick speech to the audience highlighting the difficulties that the local branches of the RNLI have had in recent years with falling numbers of people able to organise events that can be used for collecting donations. He made a plea for anyone who is interested and can help to contact him. (pearcej53@virginmedia.com).
Various videos were shown during the meeting. If you click on the images below you should be taken to the Youtube website where the video can be seen
RNLI_200th_Timeline_Film 200 years in 200 seconds, a brief history of the RNLI.A video from 1924 The 100th Anniversary of the RNLI Saved by a motor life-boat – Film made to celebrate the RNLI’s centenary in 1924. Featuring Whitby and Staithes & Runswick lifeboat stations. Youtube version.
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The Tradition of the Lifeboat Service – a cinema appeal Archive footage – from the 1940s? – of the RNLI service. Includes launch footage from the Mumbles down a slipway, and the Robert and Ellen Robson at Whitby being drawn through the streets
A simple Refresher Quiz on the RNLI which you should get 10/10 if you have visited the RNLI website
1. How many times were lifeboats launched in 2010?
223
3,223
9,223
17,223
2. RNLI crew members are all …….
fishermen
men
very tall
volunteers
3. How many crew members are there in the RNLI?
Over 500
Over 5,000
Over 50,000
Over 5 million
4. Where are the RNLI Headquarters located?
Blackpool
Goole
Liverpool
Poole
5. The RNLI was founded by Sir William Hillary in which year?
1724
1824
1924
2004
What is the person in charge of the lifeboat at sea called?
Boat Boss
Captain
Coxswain
Mechanic
The RNLI`s newest class of lifeboat is called what?
Severn
Shannon
Trent
Tyne
How many lives has the RNLI saved since its foundation?
Over 1,400
Over 14,000
Over 140,000
Over 1,400,000
The RNLI`s purpose is to do what?
Paint boats orange
Recruit volunteers
Rescue people
Save lives at sea
The RNLI have how many lifeboat stations around the coast?
Over 20
Over 200
Over 2,000
Over 20,000
This quiz was written by Mr Adrian Boyd from the RNLI.
Four yachts from the extended SOCA fleet meet up at Levington marina on the river Orwell in August 2024. This was the CIC event that was originally planned for late May but was rescheduled due to other commitments.
The yachts involved were Honfleur, Missbehaving, Skylark and Just Fleur.
Honfleur under sail
Just Fleur on the river Orwell
The crews of all 4 yachts meet at Lightship Bar, home of the Haven Ports Yacht Club, where a nourishing meal and a few drinks helped to generate a very convivial atmosphere.
All crew members present were looking forward to the next time we can all sail together.
“We are holding our annual RNLI Flag Day in Hitchin Town Centre on
Saturday the 21st September from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.
This is traditionally our biggest fundraising event of the year and this year will be extra special as we celebrate two hundred years since the founding of the RNLI. We would really like to make this year special and as usual we shall have stalls in the Market Square selling a range of RNLI branded merchandise including our ever popular Christmas Cards, Diaries and Calendars as well as bric a brac.
We hope very much to see you there. This year we are hoping to place as many street collectors around the town as possible during the day and if you are able to spare an hour or longer holding a collection bucket please let us know your preferred time and I will put together a rota with full details closer to the time. If you prefer to help on a stall, please also let us know as we may have need of a little help during the day.”
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.
In the summer holidays SOCA normally organise a BBQ at a members house. This year it has been decided that we would instead join the BBQ and dingy sailing event being organised by at Paxton Lakes Sailing Club, see report from Peter below.
BBQ/ Dinghy Sailing. Our BBQ & Dingy Sailing , Paxton Lakes Sailing Club, Thursday , 25 July, enjoyed good weather and with some wind for our sailors.Very good turnout with SOCA Members, BOSG Members, Members children and grandchildren. Lovely evening. Simon ( Bob’s son) did a great job getting boats ready & packed away, BBQ organised and all the admin – thank you again Simon.
SOCA held a celebration lunch on Saturday the 13th of April 2024 to mark the 40th Anniversary of its inception. The event was held at the Cowper Arms which is close to Welwyn North railway station.
A selection of other pictures from the event is shown below.
SOCA Burgees available at special price of £45
Also on sale at the lunch, at a special price of £45, were SOCA burgees the ideal addition to your Starboard spreader. These are still available. Contact commodore@socasailing.org.uk
Despite some technical issues (with sound quality) when we tried to conduct a joint, in person and ZOOM, meeting the club did eventually manage to successfully hod the 2024 AGM which again was a relaxed, social evening which gave the retiring Commodore, Andrew, the chance to look back at the past year and for the new Commodore to discuss plans for the next season.
Commodore’s Report
Various discussions took place between Committee members of SOCA and BOSG during the year. The outcome was that the existing BOSG members joined SOCA on mass as Country members.
AprilSOCA Fitting Out Lunch June, An informal drinks and chat at the RNA in Welwyn Garden City. July. A walk followed by a meal at Stewart and Tanya’s. August. SummerBBQ at Richard and Norma’s house. September. Due to technical issues the planned presentation was moved to the October meeting. In its place the attendees held a social at the RNA. November. 2023 Laying Up Lunch December. SOCA 2023 Photo Competition
Sailing in Company
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. SeptemberSailing Weekend (Solent). This event was effectively cancelled due to bad weather. Two of SOCA’s south coast yachts ventured out but then returned to home ports without meeting up.
Links with BOSG & NOSCA
Gliding Event July 23 organised by BOSG Website Link to NOSCA Newsletter Attendance at Sailing events BOSG members becoming Country members of SOCA.
Saturday the 13th of April 2024 SOCA will be holding a celebration lunch to mark the 40th Anniversary of its inception.
Thursday 16th May. Sailing in the Greek Islands 2023. A talk will be given by Terry with Stewart providing additional anecdotes. A talk that is bound to be enjoyable and humorous.
The main part of the evening was a presentation of a cheque to the Chairman of the RNLI Hitchin & District Branch of the RNLI, John Pearce. 
