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

Encore, encore

Alain Duhaut, trumpeter of the Cornouaille Jazz Band
click to enlarge

‘Concert at Port La Fôret, Sunday at 16 hours in the same place of there 2 years.’

Alain Duhaut sent me this email just as we leaving Audierne. Alain’s the trumpeter of the Cornouaille Jazz Band which we had the great pleasure of hearing two years ago.

So how exciting is that? His band was going to play again at Port la Fôret – and we’d be there. Quelle coïncidence.

Coast Guard

‘Play d’eau, Play d’eau, Play d’eau, this is Cross Étel. Over.’

We were on passage from Audierne and an hour from Port la Fôret. Why would the Coast Guard be calling me? Cautiously, I responded.

‘What is your destination?’ I was asked. ‘Port la Fôret, over.’ ‘Play d’eau, do you know a M. Alain Duhaut?’ ‘Oui,’ I said, even more cautiously this time. ‘M. Duhaut wants you to know he is monitoring your progress on AIS and will greet you when you arrive.’

The Coastguard relaying personal messages? Wow. But how totally brilliant of Alain.

Arrival

Play d’eau was berthed alongside the bandstand. Perfect.
click to enlarge

On arrival, we were allocated pontoon R just outside the marina. I was about to question this decision when I realised Pontoon R would place us directly opposite the band stand and only 20m away. Did I sense Alan’s hand in this?

We were just finishing putting Play d’eau to bed after the passage when a trumpet played God Save the Queen, followed by the Marseillaise.

‘Alain!’ both Lin and I shouted as we jumped off the boat to very warm greetings.

The day arrived

With my camera rolling, the Cornouaille Jazz Band began. For two hours, the audience was rapt and children danced. We were gloriously entertained by the six enthusiastic players.

I’ll let the photos tell all.

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

(click on the photos below to enlarge, and use the left/right arrows)

4 comments to Encore, encore

  • Pip Flynn

    Talk about being serenaded!!! But what a lovely surprise, particularly your pontoon allocation.
    As the French might say “magnifique” – and definitely without the requisite Gallic shrug!
    P&Pxx

  • Hil

    I love it ,I love it! And you are right- the photos do tell it all. How thrilling the whole thing must have been- starting with the Coast Guard calling you. The impact you made two years ago was obviously very strong. All so moving too. What a wonderful welcome and they all look such characters. Did you record them? I would love to hear them if you did. Glorious!

    Lots of love, Hil x x

    • Hi Hil, yes, I made videos of eleven pieces. I will see if I can attach at least one to the webpage but they are large, so I’m unsure. But I’ll make sure you hear them, somehow. What I really loved was that they played to the world without a care in the world, just loving what they were doing.

  • Patrick Colahan

    Now that is a greeting for the books. Loved the pictures, could not have asked for a better moorage. Your adventures are creating a world of friends.

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