About this site

Piers and Lin du Pré bought their new Fleming 55 / 129, Play d'eau, in 2003.

She was berthed in Beaucette Marina, Guernsey in the Channel Islands at N49° 30’.197 W002° 30’.350 until she was sold in October 2021.

This site charts the thrilling adventures they had in her.

You can contact us here.

Where’s Play d’eau?

If the new owners have the AIS on, you can find where Play d'eau is right now.

Click here.

Zoom in and our position will be shown on a map.

Recent Posts

Port La Forêt – we’re staying a while

A Jazz group was practising on the bandstand ready for Sunday

You’ve probably gathered we like it at Port La Forêt. So much so, that instead of moving on after two days we’re staying. Why? The village of La Forêt-Fouesnant is a lovely half mile walk away around a lake and half way there is the Crêperie Quartier d’été with its wonderfully eccentric owner just waiting to delight you with his crêpes and Fouesnant cidre served Breton style in pottery cups …

Continue reading Port La Forêt – we’re staying a while

Leg 5 – Audierne to Port La Forêt – 25 June 2013

Brining his catch home, a fisherman proudly displaying his boat's moustache

With the sun daring to make one of her rare but welcome appearances during the summer months, Play d’eau and ship’s company waved au revoir to the small, unspoiled town of Audierne. Although it may not have had the finest of marinas, it’s ‘real’. Wi-Fi may only be available from a bar on the quay front provided you keep drinking Cidre Pression (quel domage) …

Continue reading Leg 5 – Audierne to Port La Forêt – 25 June 2013

A Maritime history of Audierne, Brittany

A Caravelle sailing vessel. There were 100 of these 60 tonners at Audierne

During the late XVIth and early XVIIth centuries, Audierne’s Breton sailors became known for their coastal navigation skills creating a commercial industry of almost a hundred 60 ton ‘Carvelle’ sailing vessels, all based in Audierne …

Continue reading A Maritime history of Audierne, Brittany

Squash and Ginger soup

Squash and Ginger soup ready to be devoured

The clue to this beautiful soup lies in its simplicity and flavour maximising. Although the amount of ginger may sound excessive, I assure …

Continue reading Squash and Ginger soup

Crouton Soldiers

Crouton soldiers, golden brown

These are so much more fun than the usual square croutons, and so simple to make, but ensure no one is about when you make them – they’ll disappear without trace if you aren’t watching like a hawk! …

Continue reading Crouton Soldiers

‘Best of Breed’ Cooking Ingredients

Cornish sea salt. Until we tried this we hadn't tasted real salt.

This post is to list the ingredients we’ve found to be best of breed and as time allows, we’ll be adding more. Our first ‘salt revelation’ came when we were shown that weight for weight, you have considerably more salt by quantity if you use an unprocessed sea salt rather than a free running, chemically enhanced table salt …

Continue reading ‘Best of Breed’ Cooking Ingredients

Leg 4 – Camaret to Audierne – 20th June 2013

La Vieille lighthouse at the south end of the Raz de Seine

Well, the wind screamed through yacht rigging and it poured with rain during the night but by 6am it had exhausted itself and become a reducing F4 with misty drizzle. By the time we cast off at 1113 it was a mere NW’ly 2. Perfect Play d’eau weather …

Continue reading Leg 4 – Camaret to Audierne – 20th June 2013

Leg 3 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Camaret – 19 June 2013

A perfect lunch - Pate de Campagne Echalotte and baguette

Having rigged for ‘silent running’ (it was still night when we left) Play d’eau motored out of L’aber wrac’h marina and down the river bound for Camaret at 0430 to catch the best of slack tide whilst transiting the notorious Chenal du Four …

Continue reading Leg 3 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Camaret – 19 June 2013

Leg 2 – St Peter Port to L’Aber Wrac’h – 18 June 2013

Our first cold pression this year - hard not to order more....

The sea was calm as the sun woke from its night’s dreams to peek over Herm, creating an orange brushstroke between the dark grey sky and sea, as we motored out of St Peter Port. Such a contrast from the previous evening’s strong E’ly F5 blowing swell and white caps into the harbour the previous evening …

Continue reading Leg 2 – St Peter Port to L’Aber Wrac’h – 18 June 2013

Goodbye cabin fever – hello Brittany!

The St Peter Port water taxi, fondly known as the 'St peter Port exocet missile'

At last! After I don’t know how many weeks of staring at weather forecasts, the skies and sea states, we have started our summer cruise – just four days before mid-summer’s day. Waiting had caused Cabin Fever to set in to the point …

Continue reading Goodbye cabin fever – hello Brittany!