Play d’eau is soldAfter 18 years of owning Play d’eau from new, she was sold on Tuesday 26 October 2021.
Although I’d been expecting the phone call from David Miles of Fleming Yachts Europe to advise the transfer of ownership was complete, I found I was by no means ready, emotionally. Feelings of guilt and betrayal flooded through me.
New Owner
Would you believe it? The new owner lives in Guernsey. He’ll be keeping the name of Play d’eau and using same berth in Beaucette. If you see or hear her on the seas, please remember it’s neither Lin nor myself!
Memories
Looking on the positive side, Lin and I have had so many brilliant times on Play d’eau and the memories remain.
What next?
Will we take on another boat? Will we charter? if we do, where? Maybe the world’s our oyster, as they say. With the call of 34 years of boating from speed boats to trawler yachts, and all the sea-experience which goes with it, something is bound to happen, whether we trigger it or it triggers us.
So until then, we wait and see. There’s no way we’ll become landlubbers. It’s just not possible. We’ll be back – sometime.
Soon after we left Beaucette, the sun peeked over the horizon to begin her ascent into the heavens
On parole from COVID
In late June 2021, we cast off from our berth in Beaucette marina, negotiated the narrow exit, turned north through the Doyle Passage and headed for the UK. Why? Guernsey’s local COVID restrictions had been sufficiently relaxed enabling us to visit our sons and their families after almost two years.
It felt as though we were on COVID parole and if we didn’t behave ourselves we’d be back in the naughty corner of lockdown.
Hmmm – what of our Boating future?
You know, driving in the UK is so different. It’s rush, rush, and rush some more, as if the sky’s about to fall down. As we drove to Devon to visit one of our sons and his family, we realised the distance was 25 times the length of Guernsey!
On the plus side, these distances gave Lin and I an unusual amount of time to talk. So we did.
Strangely, we found we were grateful to COVID. On the one hand, it had forced us into house arrest, but on the other, it allowed us to enjoy and work on our gorgeous gardens which were in their full summer gloriousness – something we wouldn’t be able to do if we were away on our usual two to three months’ cruising on Play d’eau. Conundrum? A few moments later, the sun displayed all her wonderous glory
And then our children and grandchildren began asking if they could come over in the summer. Was Play d’eau about to become a stumbling block rather than an exciting escape?
Memories
We began reliving the many magnificent journeys we’d had on Play d’eau. The inland waterways of Holland; the UK’s south coast; the Isles of Scilly; the Channel Islands; the Normandy coast; Brittany and best of all, around the Brest peninsula and south past the Isles de Glenan and further south to La Rochelle and Rochefort. On our own, with family, with friends.
So many highlights, some of which we’ve written about in Play d’eau’s history of this website.
Making the decision
The more we talked, the more it began to dawn on us that we needed to start a new chapter in our book of life. After a great six weeks spread amongst all members our family, we returned to Guernsey where the conundrum became a fact and we made the decision, albeit agonising, to sell our beloved Play d’eau.
Lowering her ensign
Her ensign is loweredA month later, Piers cruised her back to Swanwick Marina, to leave her in the hands on David Miles of Fleming Yachts Europe Ltd until she found her new owner.
Piers crew, Richard Poat, insisted on taking the helm seat whether on the FB or in the PH. Richard had crewed on our maiden trip in 2003 and was now on her final trip, in effect bookending our Play d’eau history.
After 18 years of ownership, we arrived in Swanwick. That evening, it was with a really heavy heart that Richard and I lowered her Guernsey ensign, for the last time.
Piers and Lin
from the Pilot House of Play d’eau
Fleming 55 (click on the photos below to enlarge)
Synoptic chart for 6 October 2018 @ 1800 Guernsey is the small grey dot above the ‘2’ of ‘1002’ click to enlarge
St Peter Port’s Victoria marina
Having returned from our summer cruise around the north Brittany coast, we were moored in St Peter Port’s Victoria marina rather than Beaucette since metal works were still in progress.
Seeing the forecast cyclonic storm approach, we secured Play d’eau with 11 warps and additional fenders. We had no idea of the ferocity we would have to endure. As the storm hit, I kept an online blog running.
Sunday 7 October 2018 – 0136
Never been in such dreadful swell and surge, ever. Currently moored in the NE corner of Victoria Marina. The NNE 7/8 gale blew up yesterday and whilst the sea was above the sill the movement was so, so powerful. A yacht opposite us was breaking its warps and needed marina staff with heavy warps strung between the pontoons to stop it breaking free.
I was up at 0100 this morning checking the 11 18mm warps and multiple fenders I’d set before the tide rises over the sill at 0200. All in place and we’re as ready as we can be. Wind is still NNE 7/8. It’s not forecast to drop to NNE 6/7 until 0500, and NNE 5 by 1000 as the tide drops below the sill.
So a ghastly 8 hours yet to come. Hopefully warps will last and not snap, and fenders won’t pop. I expect I’ll be a tad weary by coffee time.
Monday and Tuesday look OK, but it’s back again on Wednesday and Thursday as a SSE’ly, but hopefully not so strong.
Must have a coffee before it all starts in 25 minutes….speak later.
0200
synoptic chart for 7 October 2018 @ 0600
Tide has just about reached the sill and 2′ swells are already jumping over. Play d’eau is starting to move and swing. It’s the ‘shortly to happen’ surge and snatch I loathe which could be with us for the next 8 hours. Hmmm.
0241
It’s reached the point where I woke Lin and ordered her off the boat. No time for niceties. ‘You must get off, now,’ I said. ‘And crawl along the pontoon. It’s too dangerous to walk.’ Lin quickly decamped into our car which was parked immediately above the mooring, to observe.
0313
I thought I’d stay on board in case fenders popped or warps snapped, but given our pontoon is doing an impression of a Mexican wave and it’s difficult to stand, I, too, have decamped to the car. I doubt there’d be anything I’ll be able to do from now on. If something did happen, it would be tricky to get off and I’d only end up compounding the problem.
Still keeping a watching eye on the boat and just in case, I’ve informed St Peter Port Control on Ch 12 I was about to leave Play d’eau and that no one would be left on board.
Really not seen anything like this in over 30 years of boating apart from videos on U-Tube. It’s extraordinary.
0424
We are in the car overlooking Play d’eau. It’s 2 hrs before HW, which seems to be a trigger point in Guernsey’s marinas when the sea tries extra hard to be more aggressive. Maybe it’s a burst of Neptune’s testosterone being released into the swell.
However, Play d’eau seems to be riding OK. Yes, warps are snatching (which I loathe and hope cleats won’t come flying off) and yes she’s dancing as though practicing for Strictly. There’s the occasional attempt when she squashes all the fenders, completely, and I’m surprised they haven’t burst under the strain.
Only (only?) 5½ hours to go until the tide is below the sill. Then we can catch up on some sleep and hopefully the forecast wind reduction will take effect.
0600
It’s 0600 and all seems to be well. Haven’t been on board, but it seems the fenders remain inflated and the warps are all intact.
In the last 2 hours the wind has decreased a strength to 6 but still from the NNE. The surging remains the same and may start to decrease if the forecast reduction in wind materialises. Warps have stretched so the snatching is amplified.
4 hours to sill time but I feel the worst of the gale has come and gone.
0814
Well, the sun is out, the sky is clear, and although the wind is from the same direction it’s dropped a knot or so.
We’re just waiting for Neptune’s 2 hour testosterone effort to pass, and then it’s back on the boat to have breakfast and some sleep, until the next tide creeps back over the sill at 1430 when it all starts again, maybe with a slightly lesser wind.
Oh the joys of boating!
0845
Back on board. Wind speed appears to be decreasing quite quickly (F3, gusting 5/6) but it’s veering from N to NNE. Hmmm. Forecast is that early evening it will be N, then backing and decreasing further.
Maybe a night on board rather than in the car tonight.
0930
It’s 0930 and the tide is close to sinking below the sill. Calm is starting to return the Victoria Marina.
Wind is now F4 and seemingly dropping further. Still from NNE. All looks good on Play d’eau. The heating’s on so we’re warm and two soft poached eggs on bread and (Guernsey) butter have made all the difference.
Next – check all warps and remake. And maybe have some sleep.
Monday 8 Octover 2018 – 0513
Good morning, everyone,
Seeing the forecasts for the next 10 days or more, we’re taking the opportunity of a good cruising day today to head for St Helier, Jersey.
Yesterday evening, the harbour staff were brilliant in searching for a spot in the QE2 marina. One was found, but it was uncertain if the owner would be returning as planned or be delayed a day or so. Although this could be established this morning, we need a good few weeks somewhere in the knowledge we can stay without the worry of having to move – again.
Hence, we’re planning to leave for St Helier (Jersey) around 0800. We’ll stay there until we know the iron works at Beaucette have been completed and it’s safe to return.
Piers and Lin
From our car’s observatory Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Our new Grandson in Lin’s arms click to enlargeAt Christmas, what could be a better present than a new addition to the family?
Unto us a grandson is born
Our son Toby and his wife Amy, having married in April 2014, have given birth to their firstborn, a beautiful grandson for us, just in time for Christmas.
Weighing in at a fine 3.94 kgs, he was back home within a few days to his newly decorated nursery.
Other members of the family
Nugget and Twiglet, Toby and Amy’s two minatiure daschunds, have a ‘brother’.
A Happy Christmas indeed
What a brilliant way to celebrate Christmas. Unto us a (grand) child is born! Nugget looks at the new family member click to enlargeSo Lin and I are now responsible for four sons, and between them and their wives, five gorgeous grandchildren. Wow.
Congratulations to Toby and Amy!
Happy days.
Piers and Lin
Proud parents and grandparents Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Play d’eau follows the bright star… (photo courtesy Kim Hollamby) click to enlarge
Happy Christmas, everyone!
May we immediately assure everyone that our radio silence for the last two years has not been because we’ve finally navigated to the great marina in the sky.
No. With considerable quantities of fuel left in life’s tanks, we’ve loved many months in the magnificent country of South Africa, spent time with family and dear friends, cruised the west coast of France (again), remedied some difficult faults on Play d’eau, and, and, and….
I mean, they say that when you retire you become more busy than ever and we can attest this to be absolutely true.
Now it’s Christmas 2017
So after such a long period of silence, the keys of my new laptop have started clattering away as I renew friendship with our website. Hence, we take this opportunity to trust you will all have a magnificent Christmas and an exciting New Year.
The Reason for the Season
As we know, the reason for the season is Jesus. Hallelujah indeed!
2018
Whilst we contemplate 2018 and make plans, one of our New Year’s resolutions is to keep the website up to date. So we thank you for your patience and ask you to keep a listening watch on this channel.
On a personal note
Whilst thinking of the reason for the season, Lin and I especially thank Him for the recent miraculous healing of a dear friend of ours. And we mean miraculous. Reality is reality.
Happy Christmas!
Piers
from the Pilot House of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Queen’s Award for Enterpriseclick to enlargeDouble First Ltd winning the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise has provoked me to write a post after seven months of posting silence for which, I admit, I have no excuses.
As the founder of Double First Ltd many years ago, I can’t tell you how proud I am of the staff’s achievement to have produced Engage, a School Management Information Software (MIS) which is respected worldwide by leading fee-paying schools.
How did it all start?
I’d been to see my neice in Bahrain in 2008 who was teaching at the 2,200 pupil St Christopher’s School. Whilst there, she took me see the school and during the tour I was introduced to the Principal, Ed Goodwin OBE. Having been asked what I did I was asked to come back and talk about our Engage software with the school’s IT Manager and Database Manager.
And that’s where it started. In St Christopher’s conference room, where for a number of days we unravelled why their five previous softwares had all failed and what needed to be developed for Engage to adopted.
Three stage plan
We agreed a three stage plan:
Stage 1 defined the capability that had to be available on the launch day
Stage 2 had to be achieved within 6 months, thereafter
Stage 3 was to be developed ‘at some time in the reasonable future’
Exporting
Barry Anns, CEO Double First Ltdclick to enlargeSounds simple?
Well, little did we know what would be involved in exporting. Quite apart from the many financial implications, each country had its own specific requirements whether in producing government reports, using multiple languages and differing curricula and marksheets to name but a few.
And finally, but most importantly, how to support countries world-wide. In the years since 2008, all has been achieved.
Enter Barry Anns
Having retired in 2013, I left Double First Ltd in the very capable hands of Barry Anns, CEO, to whom I must extend my thanks and congratulations for guiding Double First Ltd so well and in such a focussed manner. With the skill of Paul Rastall (CTO), both Barry and Paul have enabled the staff to produce our world class Engage software which has won the prestigious and coveted Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
For the full report ion the achievement, read here.
Our new ultra-thin Sparky click to enlargeHave you tried driving in Guernsey? If so, you’ll certainly know the roads are narrow and how often you have to mount kerbs to avoid oncoming traffic.
Broken wing mirrors are evidence enough.
It was obvious, really. We had to sell the Jeep Cherokee and find a thin car. But how thin was thin?
Vital statistics
And then we saw a Toyota Sparky. She looked as though she had been squashed sideways like jam in a sandwich.
At 2m tall (6’3″) and only 1.5m wide (4′ 11″) she was really thin. Thin and box-like.
Perfect for Guernsey. But what would our children make of her?
Blue Chip
Box-like, Sparky is perfect for Guernsey roads click to enlargeTalking with James of Bluechip, we learned these cars hadn’t been made since 2004. As an importer of Japanese cars, James said he’d look for one and let us know if something suitable popped up.
Three months passed before we received an email. Would we like a pearlescent white Sparky, petrol, year 2000, 1300cc automatic, fuel injection engine, 70,000kms on the clock, electric windows, electric folding wing mirrors, ABS and Snow control (snow? Perfect for Guernsey of course…), in excellent condition?
Of the 7 seats, the rear 2 can be folded away completely into a hold under the floor leaving a huge area for baggage.
‘Oh, and she’s in really good condition for 15 years old,’ added James.
Did we hesitate?
Exit Jeep, enter Sparky
Our Toyota Sparky click to enlargeSo with our beloved Jeep being exchanged for Sparky, we no longer have to swerve onto kerbs.
We have to admit, Sparky is such fun to drive.
Comments from the children included, ‘Stannah lift, zimmer frame, perfect for old people’, but once they’d been in her they all admitted she was a great car.
Piers and Lin
from the motor garage of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
Josiah waits for the command to ‘Fire!’ click to enlargeOur grand, grandson, Josiah, had reached 12 years old and was able to travel unaccompanied on a plane.
Happy Birthday, Josiah
So, our present was a ticket from the mainland to Guernsey’s International Airport!
Lin and I arranged a hectic three days for him on the island. The weather wasn’t good enough to go boating or dinghying, so we planned to fire a cannon and protect the SW shores of Guernsey by manning a huge restored gun near Pleinmont Point.
And that was in between eating far too many ice creams.
Castle Cornet
After explorations of the alleyways, fortifications, cannons and look-outs of Castle Cornet we found where the 1799 noon day cannon was to be fired.
Two members of the Guernsey Militia marched to the cannon and whilst one trained his telescope on the town clock to check the time, the other loaded and primed the 25 gram charge.
At precisely noon, the command to ‘Fire!’ was given and the cannon was fired.
The noise was unbelievable. We all jumped, shrieked and giggled.
Special Treatment
In the machine gun turret before running into the tunnels click to enlargeHaving cleared and secured the cannon, the soldiers marched towards us and asked for Josiah in a loud voice. ‘Would you like to see the cannon, young man?’ asked the Sergeant.
The next 20 minutes saw Josiah being told the history of the cannon and instructed in how it’s loaded and fired.
After some drill practice, the Sergeant gave the order for Josiah to look sharp and march to the front of the cannon, load it, prime it, march back and take the firing lanyard.
Even though this was a practice with no live charge, the Sergeant gave the order, ‘Fire!’. Josiah pulled the lanyard smartly back, unable to restrain his giggling.
Protecting the SW shores
With cannon firings and explosions, and death and destruction now strongly coursing in his blood, we walked to a huge restored German gun near Pleinmont Point. There was no stopping Josiah. He climbed down into the trenches and ran around tunnels and secret passages that surrounded the recessed gun, leaving Papa Bear (Piers) struggling to keep up. ‘Oh, come on, Papa Bear. Keep up!’
One moment Josiah was in a machine gun turret, the next in a tunnel. Finally, he found the gun. The rest is photographic history.
The holiday came to an end far too soon, and we delivered a tired Josiah into the arms of the air hostess for his return to England.
Makes this modern Airsoft seem somewhat trivial, doesn’t it?
Piers and Lin
from the saloon of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
(click on the photos below to enlarge, and use the left/right arrows)
Kimberleigh’s engaged! click to enlarge‘I’m engaged!’ whispered Kimberleigh to Lin and I.
We were staying in a small boutique Johannesburg hotel where Head Chef Kimberleigh had been feeding us far too well and we just knew the extra pounds were winning the fight against our trying to eat sensibly.
When?
During our stay, we had many conversations with Chef Kimberleigh, most of which were ‘foodie’. But when we learned she had been going out with Waldo for over four years, we couldn’t stop asking the obvious question. ‘When he’s going to propose?’ ‘No idea.’ said Kim.
He just did!
Two days later, as dinner was being served, Kimberleigh came over to us whispered, ‘He’s just proposed!’
Apparently, as Kimberleigh and Waldo were walking in the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, he produced the ring and proposed.
Completely unexpected.
The date is set
Kimbereligh’s sparkling engagement ring click to enlargeHaving become engaged on 6 March 2015, the marriage is set for 7 May 2016.
Congratulations
Our hearty congratulations to Kimberleigh and Waldo and we trust they will have a great marriage and many, many years in which to enjoy it.
Both Kimberleigh and Waldo are Head Chefs.
Piers and Lin
from the saloon of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
The sounds of Africa fall asleep click to enlarge‘The silence is deafening. What have you been doing?’ asked a friend of mine when I hadn’t posted anything on the Play d’eau site for three months.
I started to explain only to be met with the comment, ‘Excuses, excuses, excuses. Just get on and do something!’ It takes a close friend to tell you the truth, doesn’t it?
Hectic, but exciting
I know I shouldn’t make excuses, but in the last three months life has been hectic yet so exciting. Lin and I have,
Been back to South Africa – again!
Had our 12 year old grandson to stay
Had a son, his wife and two children to stay
Given Play d’eau her annual service ready for our summer cruise
Had another son and his Fiancée to stay
Over the next few days
We’ll be making short posts of all the above, to try to make up for our silence.
Piers and Lin
…on the naughty step of Play d’eau
Fleming 55
These were the voyages of Piers and Lin du Pré aboard their Fleming 55
