FINAL SIGNAL : Report on PSYC Trafalgar Night Dinner - 21st October 2023
It is sometimes said that any naval 
power wishing to invade the shores of England, would be best placed to do so in the early hours of the morning of the 22nd of October when many of that nation’s naval officers would be retiring to their bed after a good Trafalgar Night Dinner, replete with tasty food, wine and port.
The PSYC TN Dinner followed suit, did not disappoint and no foreign warships were spotted at the lock gates.
Luckily, our President (Dave Fortey), Vice President (Susan Scott) and ‘speaking’ Table Captains (Heaton, Jump, Selley, Scott, and Bowie had planned for such an eventuality and Command HQ was set up at No 51 Bryher to ‘rehearse’ the evening’s operation. Doug Latta and Roy Clarke were called upon to back up the plan. Unfortunately, Ian Bourne was always ‘adrift’ but more than made up for it on the night!
The battle plan was put into action early on the morning of the 21st. Flags were hoisted, ‘walk-throughs’ executed and much ‘tooth sucking’ done by the Vice President on the risk of ‘alarms’ being sounded during the planned ‘Parade of Sail’. Calmed by a ship’s captain, who has experience in these matters, a voyage plan was filed for the route.
In the evening, ninety-two crew reported for duty. Embarked on tables of different ‘ships of the line’ and wearing finery seldom seen around the pontoons, the scene was set for a night which promised to blend tradition with fun.
Dining, fortification, a ‘touch of history’ (superbly delivered by our President and his table captains), and toasting were the standing orders of the day. As the evening progressed so did the banter, not only between the omnipresent ‘power’ and ‘sail’ contingencies but also the crew showing support for their own captains and ships.
The ‘Parade of Sail’ was introduced 
by the club’s only serving RN officer, Surgeon Commander Alan Bowie, resplendent in his mess undress and wearing miniature medals as, it should be noted, were some other crew members.
With no smoke detectors activated during the spectacular parade, Madam Vice finally relaxed, so much so that she tried to offer a glass of port to all crew before the President had received his final reports - Hooray tio! ( Horatio).
The President then delivered a eulogy to Nelson culminating in the most important moment of the evening, a toast to ‘The Immortal Memory’.
Following a few songs led by ‘Deck & Fo’c’sle’, all crew stood to attention with a rousing rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’ which was a patriotic and fitting close to what, by common consensus, was a fabulous evening.
And so for now, just one final toast….
' Mr. President, Ladies & Gentlemen’ ‘Port Solent Yacht Club’
Yours Aye
Susan