All posts by Piers du Pré

Holidays

Safari to South Africa

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Aslan rules over his Kingdom
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What an adventure. All two and half months of it. What a treat – but then we are retired!

In a nutshell

We drove hundreds of kilometres across magnificent mountain ranges, along extensive plateaus, visited a crane sanctuary, saw four of the Big 5 in a private game reserve, sampled some of South Africa’s finest food and wines, met our new family members again and made so many friends. Oh, and I had an infected wisdom tooth pulled out.

The term ‘the Big 5’ refers to the five most dangerous African animals to hunt. The African elephant, African lion, African buffalo, African Leopard, and the rhinocerous. We saw all except for the leopard.

Memories of the ‘Jungle Book’ flooded back as we journeyed through Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mthatha, and saw signs for Lesotho and Swaziland. Did we meet Shere Khan and Mowgli? Sadly, no.

We witnessed the stake out, the chase, and the munching
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Our South African adventure was an overload of wonderment, beauty, friendship, sheer bliss and memories.

Drakensberg mountains

The dramatic Drakensberg mountains enclose the central Southern African plateau, stretching over 700 miles and reaching heavenwards to over 11,400 feet into deep blue skies. We’ll let the photographs speak for themselves.

Lichens Pass

Our return journey from Johannesburg to Durban took us through two villages called Egypt and Bethlehem before driving along the Lichens Pass. Majestic and breath taking are poor words with which to describe the visions laid before us.

One deep sadness
Trinity is taken out for a flight
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On safari, the wildlife was spectacular but declining at an alarming rate. Poaching, coupled with a strong tourist trade paying high money stakes to hunt and kill for pleasure, are diminishing the animal kingdom at an alarming rate. For some animals, it’s already beyond a sustainable level.

The facts on poaching alone speak for themselves. In the last three years alone, 100,000 elephants have been slaughtered for their ivory whilst the desire for rhino horn from far east countries means the Rhino will be extinct by 2020; the birth rate is far, far lower than the slaughter rate.

Our human race has so much to answer for.

Return to Guernsey

Having spent so much time in South Africa we found it really hard to leave. We’d met so many lovely people, seen so many wonders and loved every moment. Yes, it was hard to leave.

Mr Weaver uses strips of reed to build his nest
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We landed late in the evening at Guernsey’s ‘International Airport’. Stepping out into the rain, we asked the taxi driver to take us the long way back to the bungalow we’ve been lent whilst Play d’eau is being repaired.

We were soon being driven along the coast road. A strong onshore wind was hurling the seas against the rocks causing the spray to detonate in all directions. Very different from the hot South African summer we’d left behind. The smell of the sea, the sight of the spray. Yes, it’s good to be back, back home.

Photo album

From nearly 3,000 photos we’ve picked 182 in a slideshow for you. Colonial style hotels, mountain passes, game reserves and drives, lion kills, exotic animals – the list goes on.

Image captions appear below the thumbnails. Arrows on the left and right of the main images allow you to change photos manually and you can pause and play by the icon in the centre of the image.

So let the photo album tell our story. We hope you like it.

Piers and Lin
waiting for the return of our
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

[Show as slideshow]

Servicing / Technical / Nav

Play d’eau and South Africa

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We left beautiful Beaucette Marina soon after midday
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1 September 2014. A decision had been made.

Having prepared our Fleming 55, Play d’eau, for the journey, Kim and I left sunny Beaucette soon after midday delivering a long and triumphant blast of the Kahlenbergs echoing around the marina’s quarry walls, and set sail (set motor?) for the journey. Not to South Africa, but Southampton via Alderney where we’d have a few hours break for supper.

Casting off from Buoy 20 in Braye Harbour, we travelled throughout a moonless night in a rather emotional sea and arrived in a flat calm Solent just as the sun rose, casting her fire orange hue over the water.

Having completed the handover to GRP Boat Repairs Ltd at Shamrock Quay, I caught the 1440 Blue Islands flight back to Guernsey and was tucked up and asleep by 8pm.

Why Southampton?

The sun rises over Cowes in the Solent
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Well, Play d’eau is in need of extensive repair work which will be carried out by UK specialists. Whilst there, Lin and I will take the opportunity to visit South Africa for the two months Play d’eau will be under cover in a heated shed.

A great friend of ours, Kim Hollamby, had flown to Guernsey to accompany me to Southampton. Lin was staying behind to make final preparations for our extended South African adventure.

Why South Africa?

Readers will remember that our youngest son, Toby, married his fiancé Amy in April this year in the Tala Private Game Reserve just outside Durban. We spent a month sightseeing this beautiful country and meeting members of our new extended family. We agreed that this, our first time in South Africa, would not be the last.

Why two months?

The chart plotter shows exactly where we are
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Simple. The work needed on Play d’eau will take two months, and since she is our home we have taken the opportunity to return to beautiful South Africa.

There’s so much to explore. Magnificent mountain ranges, wines, exotic game reserves, wines, family to meet, wines, journeys to be made, and have I mentioned the fine luscious South African wines?

What’s up with Play d’eau?

Good question. The main problem is hundreds of blisters on many of the surfaces above the waterline. Above the waterline? Yes, above the waterline.

Apparently, when she was built a water-attractive filler was used in some places under the gel coat rather than an epoxy water-repellent filler. Hence, any water resting on surfaces was ‘sucked’ through the gel coat, into the filler, causing blistering, looking just like a bad rash of teenage acne. Given her debut was at the 2002 Southampton Boat Show, she’ll be thirteen in a year’s time, so teenage acne isn’t a bad metaphor.

The Blisters

The hundreds of blisters look like a teenager’s bad rash of acne
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So, Play d’eau will be in a heated tent, with the blister correction work being carried out by a Fleming recommended facility. Work will be monitored by a marine surveyor and finally signed off as complete and corrected.

Other work will include blasting the hull back to the original epoxy coating, applying additional epoxy, re-antifouling, reseating caprails, remaking any loose caulking in the teak decking, repairing any ‘dinks’ in the internal wooden flooring, certifying the fire protection systems, replacing a gearbox oil seal and servicing the Glendenning engine synchroniser.

And that will all take two months. But at least she’ll be ready for next year’s cruising with not a hint of acne.

Piers and Lin
from a friend’s bungalow near Cobo
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

Post prostate

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Having so enjoyed my stay in The Victoria Wing being thoroughly spoiled by the nursing staff and Chef Dave, I returned to take some pics of the team and Chef Dave’s food.

One thing leads to another

The pics were liked so much that they reached the eyes of my consultant, Mr Owen Cole, and Debbie Guillot, CEO of The Medical Specialist Group.

A meeting was arranged with Ms Guillot, her Deputy CEO, and the Communications and Marketing Manager.

The upshot is that du Pré Guernsey Ltd has been engaged as an advisor to the CEO’s team to re-design The Medical Specialist Group’s new web-site, and also that of The Victoria Wing.

Claudine and a selection of her nursing staff
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That includes the design, branding, colours as well as new wording and photography. Exciting.

The Medical Specialist Group provides emergency and elective specialist medical services for the Bailiwick of Guernsey within the secondary health care framework of Guernsey, in partnership with the Health and Social Services Department.

The Plan is…

The plan is for the websites to go live in early September which will coincide well with our next trip to South Africa (more of this to come in another post!).

The emphasis of the new sites is to concentrate on patient care.

So maybe this is a good opportunity for me to give something back to the staff who gave so much to me when I had my prostate op.

Here are some of the pics…

Cod with a red pepper sauce
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Monk fish, so succulent
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Chef Dave and lamb chops
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Meringue anyone?
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A mango delicious
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This time it’s a strawberry delicious
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Piers and Lin
from the design studio of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

Preferred channel marker?

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Piers has a corker of a red eye
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Red, green, red – is it a preferred channel marker? A port hand marker with seaweed?

“Woke up, got out of bed…”

As the song goes, “Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head”. And then I looked in the mirror, and saw an horrific sight! A red eye looking back at me.

For some unknown reason, it was completely bloodshot. Possibly not the prettiest sight know to man.

How?

How did it happen? No ‘eyedea’. It just happened. No pain, no blurred vision. It was just red. No feeling of anything being in the eye.

It’s interesting watching peoples’ reaction. Some see, study for a second or so, and look at the other eye as though there was nothing wrong. Others look, frown, come closer and say in a somewhat accusatory tone, “What on earth is wrong with your eye?” Subtle and caring…

No, I’ve not become a vampire. Just a bit self conscious!

Piers and Nurse Lin
from the sick bay of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Cruising

We won!

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The RCIYC (Guernsey) Cruising Trophy
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We won the RCIYC Cruising Trophy!

Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club

My father, Derek du Pré, a Jerseyman and keen sailor had been a member of the RCIYC for many years.

Following in his footsteps, it was de rigueur to join which we did soon after purchasing our first Play d’eau, a Princess V39.

Shall we? Shan’t we?

Soon after returning from our brilliant cruise of the west coast of France last year, the RCIYC asked members to submit their 2013 cruising logs to see who might be awarded their Cruising Trophy.

‘Come on,’ said Lin, ‘it’s worth a try.’

I did. We emailed the RCIYC Secretary.

We won!

The Merrill Lyle Cruising Trophy
with Play d’eau and our names on it!
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And we won! It was so exciting. But what exactly had we won?

At the club, Stuart Crisp, Commodore, presented us with the Trophy. A 9″ intricate ivory carving of a Chinese skiff. It’s so detailed, so beautiful.

I couldn’t help but think of Dad, who, in his 21′ sailing boat, Alouette, would sail the islands, the French coast, and race against the Jersey RNLI in foul weather.

I wondered what his cruising logs would have looked like?

Piers and Lin
from the chart table of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

Did the walls fall down?

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First, holes were drilled into the granite walls
Granite dust flew everywhere
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Following our previous post (The Trumpet shall sound), we can happily report that the walls didn’t fall down.

Just in case

Just to be on the safe side, Beaucette Marina is making sure the walls won’t fall down.

For the last two months, Matt and Jake of Geomarine quarry engineers have been working in Beaucette marina, pegging walls with two metre rods, strapping with cable, and on part of the west wall, covering with netting.

Why now?

Following surveys by the States of Guernsey in the late 1960s, before the east wall was blasted by The Royal Engineers to create an entrance from the sea to the quarry, concern was raised over the stability of the quarry’s walls.

However, detailed inspection proved the walls to be stable.

But that was 45 years ago. A recent survey from geologists raised fresh concerns over certain areas, and especially part of the west wall which just happens to be where Play d’eau is moored!

Reinforcing

The work has involved drilling deep holes into the rock face, inserting hundreds of two metre rods and fixing them with grout before strapping heavy gauge cable between them.

2m long rods were fixed with grout
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In one particular area of the west wall, where Play d’eau is moored, netting has been hung as well.

With 316 stainless steel being used throughout, the netting is covered in a heavy grey plastic coating.

Teas and Coffees

We have to admit, it’s been somewhat noisy. What with the hammer drilling, the pneumatic clipping to hold the nets together and the screaming grinding of the hundreds of rods, echoes reverberated around the quarry.

Seeing the men working so hard, suspended and hanging down the walls by ropes, we felt we had to give them regular hot teas and coffees. One sugar each, with just a spalsh of milk, twice a day, please.

The spin off was periods of glorious peace as they downed tools to refresh themselves. Time to hear the oyster catchers again, time to revel in the quiet, yet all too soon shattered as the air compressor re-started heralding the bursting into life of the heavy power tools.

Nets were hung and clipped together
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Ah, well, not too long until the next round of teas and coffees.

Piers and Lin
from the anechoic chamber of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

The trumpet shall sound

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Alain’s yacht
© Alain Duhaut
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The phone rang. It was a French number. I answered cautiously. ‘Allo?’

Alain, the Trumpeter, on pilgrimage

It was Alain, the trumpeter from the Cornouaille Jazz Band! He’d arrived in St Peter Port from Port La Forêt in his 6m yacht and could we meet.

Parking on St Peter Port’s Victoria Pier there was no mistaking Alain’s bright red yacht. He told me that 40 years ago his father had sailed with him to Guernsey in this very yacht.

Not having been back in all that time, he felt it was right to make the pilgrimage and at the same to meet Lin and I again.

An audience

After some delicious Breton Cidre, Alain produced his piccolo trumpet. ‘Just for you,’ he said.

Alain played on the back of Play d’eau…
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Alain played and played, ending with the British National Anthem. Cries of ‘Encore’ and ‘Bravo’ came from the impromptu audience that had gathered on the adjacent piers.

A visit to Play d’eau

The next day, Alain joined us on board Play d’eau. Jason, a Frenchman who lives in Guernsey and keeps his yacht, Bullet, next to us, joined the party to ensure we didn’t miss any conversation.

Lin had made some delicious canapés, and with bottles of Guernsey cider we toasted Port la Forêt and the Cornouaille Jazz Band. When the cider was exhausted, rosé appeared.

Before leaving, Alain produced his trumpet again declaring it was only right to play on Play d’eau, in Beaucette.

Alain played his heart out. His piccolo trumpet echoing around the Beaucette’s quarry walls. Again, an audience appeared. After many encores, it was, sadly, time to go.

A two-way promise

…and the whole of Beaucette was rewarded
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We promised to return to Port la Forêt and in return Alain promised to bring his band to play on Play d’eau en masse.

One condition. Breton Cidre.

Piers and Lin
from the bandstand of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

Coming and Going

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Diccon and family gaze out to sea
on the south coast
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As one son and his family left, another arrived.

So excited

As soon as Diccon and Charlottes’ two children, Oscar and Maia, scrambled down the Flybe aircraft steps, they started running towards the terminal building leaving Mum and Dad behind. Baggage in hand, all four emerged from Customs and the children ran into our arms.

With cries of ‘Can we go to the beach?’ and ‘Can we go on the boat?’ we find the car, drive to Beaucette Marina and board Play d’eau. The sun is out in all her shining glory and it’s hot.

Beaches and Walks

Suitably smothered with oils and lotions for protection from the blazing sun, L’Ancresse and Pembroke Bay were first on the list. Walking along the coast line past Fort Doyle and Fort Le Marchand, low tide showed off the vast sandy beaches where explorations of pools, worm casts and seaweed brought squeals of delight.

South Coast

Oscar makes the seagulls fly
in Le Petit Bôt Bay
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Waking to a slight overcast, a walk along the south coast from Saints Bay to Petit Bôt Bay with its Loop-holed Tower and mandatory tea-room was eagerly chosen.

With so many roads closed we couldn’t leave a car at Petit Bôt Bay. Simple. We’d walk both ways!

Instead of potential rain, the skies cleared and the sun shone. With wellies and rain coats in rucksacks rather than suntan lotion, some of us were somewhat reddened by the time we returned.

Beaucette Restaurant

A meal out saw us at Beaucette Restaurant (again) with all six of us. With cushions for Oscar and Maia, we spent the next two hours eating, laughing, and being spoiled for choice. The wines were good as well…

Until next time

Low tide shows off acres of sandy beach
at L’Ancresse Bay
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Our time together went far too quickly and the now all too familiar drive to the airport saw us motoring along the coast road. Errors on their boarding passes meant a close shave to missing their flight, but they didn’t.

Lin and I gave yet more hugs to the children, waved goodbye, and headed for the car.

With no more family to take their place, there were no more shriekings and no more clamourings of ‘What are we doing tomorrow?’. Play d’eau seemed empty when we returned. But soon we found the odd shell, sprinklings of sand and sticky finger marks. Memories. Glorious!

Until next time. Mmmm.

Piers and Lin
from the memory banks of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

Family comes to stay

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Ricky takes the family to Herm for the afternoon
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A treat! Our eldest and his family flew over to stay with us on Play d’eau for a long Bank Holiday weekend.

The sun comes out

Mid-afternoon last Saturday, we met his family at Guernsey’s airport and took the coast road back to Beaucette. In a display of welcome to Guernsey, out came the sun banishing the grey clouds to England and creating a clear blue sky just for us.

Gloriously indulgent

With the excited children safely tucked up in their bunks and with two-way radios just in case (!) we climbed the pontoon walkway for dinner in the Beaucette Restaurant.

Yet again, Chef James delighted us all with Seafood specials, lobster and crab tians, lamb, and fish and chips. Cholesterol level challenging deserts appeared closely followed by teas and coffees and chocolates.

We lingered over two lovely bottles of wine (a fragrant New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a mellow South African Boschendal Cabernet and Merlot blend) and glasses of Muscat for desert. What a gloriously indulgent way to start a holiday.

Hammering off at a crazily high speed
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Being low tide, we had to negotiate the steep walkways back down to the pontoons…

Sunday

Excitement levels were high. Breakfast disappeared in a trice. In no time at all we were in the cars bound for Pembroke Bay. The son of a couple on a neighbouring boat was with us.

The sun was hot, the air clear and filled with ozone, sea and sun tan lotion. ‘Ice cream’ was the cry. ‘Cricket first’ was the response.

Exhausted (parents more than children) and all ice-creamed up, we headed back to Play d’eau for lunch. Whilst children played more cricket, football, and bounced on Beaucette’s trampoline, we dozed and slept a while.

Monday

It might have rained a bit in the night, but spirits were in no way dampened. After lunch, Ricky, Beaucette’s Marina Manager, took the family to explore Herm on his crazily fast RIB whilst we took our daughter-in-law back to the airport. Sadly, she had to be back at work the next day.

Tuesday

The son of a couple on a neighbouring boat joined us for cricket at L’Ancresse Bay
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With more beach and cricket, our grandson ended up determined to swim. Despite warning it would be cold, he ran into the water and swam for fifteen minutes. A brave, determined, young man at eleven years old.

Wednesday – all change

Whilst our eldest packed, I went to the airport to collect another of our sons, his wife and two children. For a period, we were all together with the four grandchildren running around shrieking and causing mayhem – exactly what grandchildren should do!

After lunch it was back to the airport to drop off our eldest and his two children for their return flight to the mainland.

Piers
from the Pilot house of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

Living aboard Play d'eau

An Ode to Pee

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Graham (and Frances) keep Woolly Mammoth
in ‘the other island’
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I’m back on Play d’eau and all is well with life. Very well.

Woolly Mammoth

Having followed my time in hospital for a rebuild of my prostate last week, our dear friends, Graham and Frances of Woolly Mammoth have penned an ‘Ode to Pee’.

It’s brilliant!

Ode to Pee

We thought we’d write this little verse, now you’ve seen the Doc and Nurse;
And they’ve unclogged your blocked up drain, enabling you to Pee again.

We also thought it would be nice, to give a bit of our advice
‘Cause you’re not used to good full flow, whenever you may want to go.

When you’re next having a great time, stand up and shout, I WANT MORE WINE;
Your tank will fill so just take care, that you don’t Pee it everywhere.

When you are full we recommend, that you yourself can just pretend
On your next visit to the Loo, stand back, take aim like firemen do.

Please don’t mind our little tease, we just want you to be at ease;
It’s wonderful now you can Wee, all we can do is shout YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEE……..

Woolly Mammoth

Piers
from the Pilot house of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Beaucette Marina