Tag Archives: 2026

2026 Laying Up Lunch

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Saturday 7th November 2026 at 1:00pm

A call to all members and supporters.
The 2026 Laying Up lunch will be at the Cowper Arms in Welwyn North.

This has become the regular location for such events since the 40th Anniversary Lunch.

If you wish to attend please email commodore@socasailing.org.uk to reserve your place.

The menu to choose from is shown below.

Can you please also select your food choices ASAP
as the meals have to be pre-ordered.

Starter £8.00 each taken from the
Cowper Arms Tapas/Starter List.

S01 Spiced Lamb Kofta Skewers
S02 BBQ Spare Ribs
S03 Breaded Chicken Mini Fillets & Lemon Mayonnaise
S04 “Wings of Fire” Hot Chicken Wings
S05  Hot & Sweet Chilli King Prawns
S06 Salt ‘N’ Pepper Squid & Thai Sweet Chili
S07 West Country Whitebait & Tartare Sauce
S08 Butterfly Crispy Breaded Prawns & Thai Sweet Chili sauce
S09  Battered Calamari Rings & Lemon Mayonnasie
S10 House Made Hummus & grilled Pita bread ( V or VE)
S11 Greek Salad & Pita bread (V, VEGAN available)
S12 Antipasta Olives & Grilled Pita bread (V, VEGAN available)
S13 Valencian Style Patatas Bravas (V)
S14 Breaded Mozzarella Sticks & Tomoao Salsa (V)
S15 Crispy Breaded Garlic Mushrooms & Lemon Mayonnaise (V)
S16 Stuffed Jalapeno Cream Cheese Bombers (V)
S17 Honey Glazed Halloumi Fries (V)
S18 Breaded Brie & Cranberry Sauce (V)
S19 Garlic and Parsley Button Mushrooms (V, VEGAN available)

                    

Main Courses

                              

COWPER CLASSICS

                            

M1 OUR FAMOUS FISH & CHIPS – Tartare Sauce – Garden or Mushy Peas £19 (£10)
M2 BREADED SCAMPI– Tartare Sauce – Skinny OR Chunky Chips– Salad £17 (£10)
M3 PIE OF THE DAY – Mash Potato OR Chunky Chips– Red Wine gravy  – Market Greens £17
M4 LAMBS LIVER & BACON – Market Greens- Mash -Red Wine gravy £18
M5 STEAK & KIDNEY PUDDING – Seasonal Vegatables – Red Wine Gravy £16
M6 PORK SAUSAGES, Mash, Peas & Red Wine Gravy, Crispy Onions  £16 (£10)
M7 BEEF & MUSHROOM STROGANOFF-Steamed Rice-Garlic Ciabatta-Side Salad £19

                    

GRILL

                                

G1 10oz Sirloin Steak – Grilled Tomato – Mixed Salad – Chips OR Fries £34
G2 10oz Rump Steak – Grilled Beef Tomato – Mixed Salad – Chips OR Fries £25
G3  5oz Rump Steak – Grilled Beef Tomato – Mixed Salad – Chips OR Fries £16
G4 10oz Gammon Steak – Fried Egg – Grilled Pineapple – Chunky Chips OR Fries £16 (£9)
Peppercorn Sauce,  Red Wine Sauce, Bernaise Sauce, Mushroom Sauce (All £5.00)

G5 100% Pure Gourmet Beef Burger £17
G6 Marinated Grilled  Chicken Burger £16
G7 Vegetarian Meat Burger £19

(Burgers are served on Brioche Buns from Dolce Forso Bakery – Pickled Red Onion – Pickled Gherkin
– Burger Sauce – Shredded Lettuce – Tomato & Topped with Beer Battered Onion Rings )
Extra Burger Topping for £1.50 each
( Grilled Bacon –Cheddar Cheese – Swiss Cheese – Feta Cheese – French Brie – Pineapple
– Fried Onion – Fried Egg – Mushrooms – Jalapenos Peppers )

                  

Vegetarian & Vegan

                              

VE1 Mixed Bean Chilli – Rice – Spicy Salsa – tortilla Chips £16 (VE)
VE2 Vegan Pie of the Day – New Potatoes – Market Greens £16 (VE)
V3 Vegetable Lasagne – Garlic Ciabatta – House Salad £17 (£9) (V)
V4 Mushroom Stroganoff – Steamed Rice – Garlic Ciabatta – Side Salad £17 (V)

Price in Brackets are for dishes that are available as a modest sized portion.

                    

DESSERT MENU

                              

D1 Banana Bread – Custard OR Sorbet £8.50 (VE)
D2 Vegan Chocolate Tart – Raspberry Sorbet £8.50 (VE)
D3 Hot Belgian Waffle – Rich Caramel Sauce – Vanilla Ice Cream £8.50
D4 Eton Mess – Meringue – Mixed Berries – Cream – Ice Cream £8.50 (GF)
D5 Bramley Apple Pie – Warm Custard OR Pouring Cream £8.50
D6 Homemade Chocolate Brownie – Luxury Vanilla Bean Ice Cream £8.50
D7 Syrup Sponge Pudding – Warm Custard and Berry Compote £8.50 (GF)
D8 Sticky Toffee Pudding – Luxury Vanilla Bean Ice Cream £8.50
D9 Toffee and Honeycomb Cheesecake – Vanilla Ice Cream – Toffee Sauce £8.50
D10  Spotted Dick – Warm Custard OR Pouring Cream £8.50
D11 Ice Cream Selection – Vanilla, Chocolate OR Strawberry £2.50 each (GF)
D12 Sorbet Selection – Mango, Lemon OR Raspberry £3.00 each (VE)

                      

Eight Years Sailing the West Coast of France

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Since 2017, Paul Bragg and his wife Elaine have been steadily exploring the west coast of France and northern Spain — and 2026 marks their ninth season cruising this remarkable region. In a very engaging and personal talk, Paul and Elaine explained why this coastline is so easy to fall in love with and so hard to leave. Drawing on years of first-hand experience, they shared what keeps pulling them back season after season and why this coastline is so easy to fall in love with and so hard to leave. 

Is it the reliable sailing weather?
The long sandy beaches and beautiful islands?
The welcoming harbours, relaxed pace of life, and unforgettable food and wine?

What Paul Bragg described about the west coast of France, especially around the Gulf of Morbihan, is exactly why so many sailors end up staying longer than planned. That whole stretch of Brittany has this rare mix: sheltered waters, strong tidal character to keep things interesting, and towns that feel genuinely alive rather than staged for visitors.


The Morbihan in particular is a bit of a gem. It’s not just scenic, it’s engaging sailing. The currents between the islands can run fast, so timing matters, but that’s part of the appeal. You get calm anchorages tucked behind wooded islets, then lively ports a short hop away with markets, music, and festivals. It’s easy to see why Paul and Elaine Bragg, aboard their Island Packet Jennie B, have made this their cruising area for eight years.

The rivers he mentioned are another layer entirely, places like the Vilaine let you trade saltwater for glassy inland cruising, tying up right beside small towns where life moves at a completely different pace.

That said, it’s not effortless cruising, you’re trading familiarity for tide planning, pilotage, and a bit of language navigation. But for many, that’s exactly the point.
If you were tempted by the talk, the real question is: would you be looking at a short charter to try it out, or something more ambitious like taking your own boat across?
Thank you Paul and Elaine for inspiring us all.

Below is a pdf version of Paul’s presentation

8-years-sailing-West-Coast-Of-France-Geff-Version