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

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

Leg 14 (2015) – St Martin de Ré to Les Sables d’Olonne

The small town is a maze of alleyways adorned with Hollyhocks

John and Beryl’s fortnight of cruising on Play d’eau had come to an end.

Amidst tears, damp handkerchiefs and endless wavings, the taxi drove slowly down the road, over the roundabout and on to La Rochelle’s airport.

We stood a while, looking, and hoping beyond hope that the taxi would turn around and come back. …

Continue reading Leg 14 (2015) – St Martin de Ré to Les Sables d’Olonne

Leg 13 (2015) – La Rochelle to St Martin de Ré

We anchoed in 3m of water by this glorious bay

I was in the middle of a lovely dream when the alarm rudely intruded and woke me.

We had an hour before we needed to be hovering outside the 0645 lock, ready to exit the Les Chalutiers basin. Not a problem. Today, the destination was St Martin de Ré. …

Continue reading Leg 13 (2015) – La Rochelle to St Martin de Ré

What on earth is it?

An alien spacecraft disguised as a boat?

En route to La Rochelle the other day, we saw an extremely fast and strange shaped catamaran in the distance.

We didn’t have time to target it on radar – it seemed to disappear as fast as it came. Was it a spaceship or have I been watching too much Star Treck? …

Continue reading What on earth is it?

Leg 12 (2015) – St Denis d’Oléron to La Rochelle

Staging for Pop Concert Énorm in St Denis

As the staging for a ‘Grand Groupe Pop Orchestre’ was being assembled, a large multi-coloured van was prowling around with its public address system booming to one and all that a ‘Pop Concert Énorme’ would be held in the marina ‘Ce Soir’.

It was our cue to depart. …

Continue reading Leg 12 (2015) – St Denis d’Oléron to La Rochelle