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

Where did the last two and a half years go?

Oh my! Even with COVID bursting over all of us with its indiscriminate attacks, it feels as though Lin and I haven’t… …

Continue reading Where did the last two and a half years go?

Return to Carentan

Carentan marina

After 21 years we’re back in Carentan on the Normandy coast. I was first here with the MBM Cruise in Company fleet in the mid-1970s (can anyone remember those days?) and then with the family in 1997.

But seeing the mile long yet narrow marina now, I just wonder …

Continue reading Return to Carentan

Leg 20 (2015) – Roscoff to Beaucette

A Mach 2 fly-past

Drat! Given a recurring gearbox problem and deteriorating weather forecasts, we made the decision to forgo our ‘jolly’ along the north Brittany coast and return straight to Beaucette.

After a day off and a lovely walk into Roscoff, we were ready to leave. …

Continue reading Leg 20 (2015) – Roscoff to Beaucette

Leg 19 (2015) – Camaret to l’Aber Wrac’h to Roscoff

Against the black clouds, the sunlight was breathtaking

Even though we’d had a somewhat tiresome passage yesterday, it had been unexpectedly rewarded by the second best dinner we’ve had whilst on holiday this year.

If ever there’s a reason to visit Camaret, it’s the Restaurant of the small Hotel Vauban. Having eaten and although tired, we felt back on form. …

Continue reading Leg 19 (2015) – Camaret to l’Aber Wrac’h to Roscoff

Leg 18 (2015) – Sainte Marine to Camaret

The day we left, the dawn sun was glowing through the milky cloud

We’ve never, ever been in such threatening seas.

Leaving Sainte Marine heading south, the wind was calm and the sea flat but soon we were heading into a slow, smooth swell which I have to say was rather enjoyable, even soothing. …

Continue reading Leg 18 (2015) – Sainte Marine to Camaret

Leg 17 (2015) – Lorient to Sainte Marine

An aerial pic showing the entrance to Lorient is guarded by the Citadel

The forecast knew it, we knew it, and it was – lumpy.

But well worth it to reach Sainte Marine from which we can judge the attack on the Finistère Peninsula. Camaret, L’Aber Wrac’h and Roscoff, here we come …

Continue reading Leg 17 (2015) – Lorient to Sainte Marine

Leg 16 (2015) – Pornichet to Lorient Port Louis

The july 2015 blue moon

Having had a dinner of Lin’s luscious mince (heavy on the onions, mushrooms and thick, shiny gravy) accompanied with sweet corn and peas and followed by cantaloupe melon with a touch of framboise liqueur and lime juice, we fell into bed soon after 8pm.

I was up at 0500. …

Continue reading Leg 16 (2015) – Pornichet to Lorient Port Louis

Leg 15 (2015) – Les Sables d’Olonne to Pornichet

We woke to find this cargo vessel on the other side of the marina. Was it capsized?

The decision was taken to make as much headway north as reasonably possible.

After nine days in Les Sables d’Olonne of wintry cold, windy and rainy days, we had an ETD of 0700. We knew the westerly swell would be a short and steep 1½m for the first two hours but it would gradually diminish as we passed between Île d’Yeu and the mainland, destination Pornichet. …

Continue reading Leg 15 (2015) – Les Sables d’Olonne to Pornichet

Quadcopter No2

Cleared for take-off

Having drowned our first Phantom Vision quadcopter in the most spectacular manner in Beaucette Marina a year ago (please don’t ask…) maybe you can understand my reticence to fly its replacement.

Having carried No2 in Play d’eau’s pilot house ever since but never having had the courage to fly it, it’s been hassling me saying, ‘Come on! I want to fly. Are you a pilot or not?’ …

Continue reading Quadcopter No2

Ambushed by the weather

Endless black clouds and high winds assail us

Own up – who turned our brilliant weather off?

The 6 weeks following our departure from Audierne on 12th June have been utterly glorious. Sun cream by the gallon (well, not quite), calm seas and blue skies, all courtesy of a friendly Azores high pressure system spreading its wings over Play d’eau. It was perfect. …

Continue reading Ambushed by the weather