Tag Archives: Fleming 55

‘Best of Breed’ Cooking Ingredients

24 June 2013 Piers du Pré 2 Comments

This post is to list the ingredients we’ve found to be best of breed. As time allows, we’ll be adding more.

Salt

From Table to Maldon to Pink Himalayan – which salt for you?

Our first ‘salt revelation’ came when we were shown that weight for weight, you have considerably more salt by quantity if you use an unprocessed sea salt rather than a free running, chemically enhanced table salt.

Our second ‘salt revelation’ was realising there were many different real salts: Maldon, Pink Himalayan, Cornish, Welsh coastal, and the list goes on and on.

So, we lined up over a dozen salts and tried them, judging each for its salty taste and saltiness strength factor.

Burford Brown eggs with their dark orange, luscious tasting yolks — Burford Brown eggs
with their dark orange, luscious tasting yolks
*click to enlarge*

Cutting to the chase, Cornish Sea Salt harvested straight from the Atlantic at the Lizard peninsula won by miles. A beautifully pure salt taste with a high salt factor meaning you use less to achieve the same saltiness.

Sadly, there’s no salt from Guernsey – maybe there’s a business to be had?

Cornish Sea Salt is available from some of the major supermarkets such as Tesco and Waitrose.

Eggs

Now this is something we just stumbled on without thinking. A ‘Doh!’ moment.

If we needed eggs, it was simply a question of size – small, medium or large.

One day, the only eggs left on supermarket’s shelf were from Cotswold Old Leg Bar hens. Opening the box to check them, the eggs were smaller than usual, but more surprisingly the shells were blue – not the normal brown or white!

Maille raspberry flavoured vinegar
*click to enlarge*

Later, when we came to use them, the yolks were such a deep orange colour, and even better, when we came to eat them, the depth of flavour was so much more intense.

This led us to try other types, and the only other that’s a challenger is a Burford Brown. Taste-wise the same, size-wise it’s larger and with a dark brown shell.

So our recommendation is Burford Brown, followed by Cotswold Old Leg Bar.

Available from some supermarkets such as Sainsburys, Morrisons and Waitrose.

Vinegar

Having been served a mayonnaise that was so, so delicate and luscious, we were told it had been made with a Raspberry Vinegar. What a difference it made.

Since then, we have used Raspberry Vinegar for our own mayonnaise and vinaigrette dressings.

We’ve also tested various makes but there’s no doubt in our mind that Raspberry Vinegar from Maille takes the crown.

It can be difficult to find in the UK, but it’s everywhere in France, of course.

Olive oil

Now here’s an interesting one. From the many olive oils that range across the shelves, we’ve found a firm favourite which Lin uses in so many dishes.

Colonna Granverde.

This is a Sicilian extra virgin olive oil taken from the first cold pressing but with a difference.

Organic Sicilian lemons are added to the olives so both are pressed together producing an oil infused with a citrus zest and aroma. Perfect.

Available from Waitrose.

Guernsey Butter

Now here’s a delight you really must try.

Guernsey butter tastes of butter. Sounds crazy but just compare Guernsey butter with the butter you usually have and you’ll have one of those ‘Damascus Road’ experiences (well, almost) and you’ll realise what you’ve been missing!

Once you’ve opened a pack, there’s no need to keep it in the fridge. Just leave it out at room temperature. It keeps for weeks like that and is always at the right consistency to spread.

You can store Guernsey butter in the freezer for months if not years, and if you have the room I’d certainly recommend buying the June and July made butter since the cows will have been grazing on the fresh spring and summer grass.

The butter of all butters. A rich, deep yellow butter, that restores faith in how butter should taste
*click to enlarge*

Both salted and unsalted versions are made.

Do let us know how you get on with using Guernsey butter – hopefully you’ll never look back, and no, we don’t have shares in the Guernsey Dairy.

Waitrose usually stocks Guernsey butter.

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

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Cruising

Leg 4 – Camaret to Audierne – 20th June 2013

21 June 2013 Piers du Pré 4 Comments

La Vieille lighthouse, next to La Plate in the Raz de Sein — La Vieille lighthouse 0.2nm NE of La Plate in the Raz de Sein
*click to enlarge*

Well, the wind screamed through yacht rigging and it poured with rain during the night but by 6am it had exhausted itself and become a reducing F4 with misty drizzle. By the time we cast off at 1113 it was a mere NW’ly 2. Perfect Play d’eau weather.

The nav plan

The ‘pinch point’ of the route was to be abeam La Plate WCM in the Raz de Sein at 1415 when the tide would be slack as it changed from north- to south-going. Given the wind was forecast NW F3, the passage through the Raz should pose no problems.

As soon as we emerged from the protection of the marina the wind began to pick up and for most of the journey to the Raz we had a WNW F5 with a 2m+ Atlantic swell on our beam causing Play d’eau to ‘loolop’ (a special Play d’eau technical term…) creating white caps on the coffee. The stabilisers worked hard.

Interestingly, the two hour journey to La Plate was more tiresome than the transit of the Raz itself. Maybe because the Raz was at slack, maybe it was the westerly wind. But it certainly wasn’t the tyrant it can be.

La Plate West Cardinal Marker in the Raz de Sein
*click to enlarge*

Passing La Plate at 1412 (three minutes early: note to self – must try harder) we turned east towards Audierne with the wind and swell behind us. A gentle and lovely ride.

Audierne

Our AA guide tells us Audierne used to have a great fishing fleet travelling to Africa to catch tuna. Nowadays its fishermen concentrate on crustacia, lobsters, crab and langoustines.

Arriving

Arriving in Audierne was great fun. The marina is 1nm up the river, reached by a dredged channel which is narrow, and I mean narrow, passing some 25m from the breakwater and 15m from the fishing wharf – narrower than Beaucette Marina’s entrance! Concentrating on the leading lines marked by fore-aft chevrons, it worked perfectly.

Having called the harbour master, he had a hammerhead ready for us. Remembering we were there three years ago almost to the day, he was on the pontoon to welcome us back. A lovely touch.

Round the Finistère corner

The last few days have meant early rises and long hours. Now, well and truly around the Finistère corner, the pressure’s off and we can saunter south to warmer climes as and when we feel like it.

As I write, it’s overcast, raining and chilly. Lin’s just reminded me it’s mid-summer’s day tomorrow, and Christmas is only 6 months and five days away; forever the cheer-leader!

This Gannet was swimming in the middle of the Raz de Sein with no concerns at all
*click to enlarge*

Tecky details

1113hrs FST – Departed Camaret
1537hrs FST – Audierne
Planned distance – 30.5nm
Longest leg – 11.8nm, Basse de Lis SCM to La Plate WCM
Tech problems – nil

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

Message to Gary – given langoustines are fresh every day, we’re going to make Langoustines bisque!

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Cruising

Leg 3 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Camaret – 19 June 2013

19 June 2013 Piers du Pré 2 Comments

The calm before the storm

The sun rises over a calm sea as we leave L'aber wrac'h — The sun rises over a calm sea
as *Play ‘eau* leaves L’aber wrac’h
*click to enlarge*

Having rigged for ‘silent running’ (it was still night when we left) Play d’eau motored out of L’Aber Wrac’h marina and down the river bound for Camaret at 0430 to catch the best of slack tide whilst transiting the notorious Chenal du Four.

With almost no wind the seas were flat. Oily, glassy flat calm. Perfect for Play d’eau and her crew.

Nearing the Chenal, the seas remained spirit level flat although a N’ly wind had started to appear, sending occasional shivers of ripples across the surface.

Camaret or Audierne?

Arriving off Le Conquet a decision had to be made. Should we continue to Camaret or slow to 3.5kts to reach the even more notorious Raz de Sein at slack tide in five hours time?

By now the wind was a rising N F3 and the forecast was soon for a F4/5. The choice was to take the Raz in the forecast wind or wait for the forecast F3 in the morning. We chose the latter trusting the forecast was right. If it wasn’t, we’d be spending many days in Camaret waiting for the next weather/tide window.

The strange water fitting which is apparently now a standard in many French marinas
*click to enlarge*

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink

Arriving in Camaret it was already blowing a strong F4. The marina was crowded with yachts waiting for elusive weather windows but we managed to squeeze into a space on the end of a pontoon giving us a metre between our stern and a yacht and our bow not quite overhanging into the channel.

Having connected shore power I went to hook our hose to the pontoon’s water supply. Looking for the tap all I found was something resembling a compressed air outlet. ‘Is this the water supply?’ I asked a British yacht. ‘Yes. Many French marinas have been upgrading their water outlets, and this fitting is now common.’ Hmmm.

We walked the mile into town to pay our dues to Le Capitainerie and ask where we could buy the fitting for our hose. With a Gallic shrug and a sound like ‘Pfff’, the words ‘Je sais pas’ completed the gesture.

A half mile further on found the Chandlery. More of a nautical gift shop than a ‘swindlery’. The only hose fittings they had were garden fittings. Maybe the Super-U?

Hose fittings or Lunch?

A perfect lunch, Pate de Campagne Echalotte and baguette. The Maille Framboise vinegar is only in the pic to show we found some at the Super-U; it’s not for adding to the pate!
*click to enlarge*

A half mile further on we found the Super-U. Again, no hose fittings. To compensate, we bought a large slice of Paté Campagne Echalote Fraiche for lunch to go with a Baguette. Perfect.

We also managed to find some Maille Raspberry Vinegar which we prize highly and which has proven impossible to find in Guernsey.

The storm?

By the time we returned to Play d’eau the wind had risen to a N’ly high F5 vindicating our call not to carry onto the Raz de Sein.

Let’s hope the wind has dies down as the forecasters predict, ready for noon departure tomorrow? We’ll see.

Tecky details

0515hrs FST – Departed L’aber wrac’h
0955hrs FST – Arrived Camaret
Planned distance – 36.4nm
Longest leg – 7.4nm
Tech problems – nil

Makes you wonder what stories this old wooden trawler could tell Play d'eau over a beer — Makes you wonder what stories this old abandoned wooden trawler could tell *Play d’eau* over a beer
*click to enlarge*

Piers and Lin

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

PS: Message for Hil – we’ll save some Framboise for you.

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Cruising

Leg 2 – St Peter Port to L’Aber Wrac’h – 18 June 2013

19 June 2013 Piers du Pré Leave a comment

Finding our Sea Legs

The orange brush stroke twixt sky and sea as we left St Peter Port — The orange brush stroke twixt sky and sea as *Play d’eau* left St Peter Port
*click to enlarge*

The sea was calm as the sun woke from its night’s dreams to peek over Herm, creating an orange brushstroke between the grey sky and sea, as we motored out of St Peter Port. Such a contrast from the previous evening’s strong E’ly F5 blowing swell and white caps into the harbour the previous evening.

The eleven and a half hour sector from St Martin’s Point to Lizen van Ouest WCM (five miles due north of L’Aber Wrac’h but ten sea miles around the rocky coast) remained surprisingly calm with almost no Atlantic swell and only the occasional V-formation of gannets.

Taken by surprise

In the middle of the vast, peaceful open ocean, our solitary bubble was suddenly pierced. ‘Play d’eau, Play d’eau, Play d’eau, this is Still Calm, Ch16, over.’ I was being hailed by a 60’ East Bay (I think it was) which was closing on us at 21kts en route to Benodet.

Perfect calm en route between St Peter Port and L'aber wrac'h — Perfect calm en route between St Peter Port and L’Aber Wrac’h
*click to enlarge*

Its Jersey owner had apparently bought a pair of Kahlenberg horns from Toby and had heard about Play d’eau.

Small world, aye?

The calm seas extended right through to L’Aber Wrac’h where we were able to cut corners close to the rocks and motor gently up river to the marina, finding a perfect spot to park just inside the wavebreak at 7.30pm French Summer Time.

Our first taste of France, 2013

Needing exercise, we jumped ship and walked to the Café du Port and had our first taste of France – a cold Pression. After thirteen hours of sailing (motoring!) it was just gorgeous.

It took great will power not to have another; we had to have supper and plan for our early morning departure for Camaret.

Our first cold pression this year - hard not to order more.... — Our first cold pression this year – hard not to order more….
*click to enlarge*

But whilst sitting at the bar, we found ourselves gently rocking.

We’d found our sea legs!

Tecky details

0519hrs BST – Departed St Peter Port
1812hrs BST – Arrived L’Aber Wrac’h
Planned distance – 105.4nm
Longest single leg – 92.7nm

Tech problems – nil

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

PS – Message for Dave and Gary – Restaurant Le Vioban is exactly where you said it would be. The menu looks luscious, so we’ll eat there on our return trip in a month or three…

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Sunset at L'aber wrac'h — Sunset at L’Aber Wrac’h
*click to enlarge*

The wonderful sunset light across L'aber wrac'h's marina — The wonderful sunset light across
L’Aber Wrac’h’s marina
*click to enlarge*

Cruising

Goodbye cabin fever – hello Brittany!

17 June 2013 Piers du Pré 7 Comments

Play d'eau in St Peter Port at the start of our summer cruise around Brittany — *Play d’eau*
in St Peter Port, Guernsey at the start of our summer cruise around Brittany
*click to enlarge*

At last!

After I don’t know how many weeks of staring at weather forecasts, the skies and sea states, we have started our summer cruise – just four days before mid-summer’s day.

Waiting had caused Cabin Fever to set in to the point it had almost become Cabin Rot. Endless delays had been caused by high winds and tracing the last of the gremlins in the new electronics.

But now it’s goodbye Cabin Fever, hello Brittany.

Summer Cruise Leg 1

So today we positioned Play d’eau from Beaucette Marina to St Peter Port to take advantage of catching the tide early tomorrow morning (18 June) for the 12 hour journey to L’Aber Wrac’h on the north west coast of Brittany.

The St Peter Port water taxi, fondly known as the 'St peter Port exocet missile' — The St Peter Port water taxi
fondly known as the ‘St Peter Port exocet missile’
*click to enlarge*

The next day (19 June) we plan to take the Chenal du Four and Raz de Sein bound for the pretty, little marina, at Audierne. After that, who knows?

When will we be back?

Our plans are to cruise the west coast of Brittany followed by the north coast as well. How long will we be away? Who knows – maybe we’ll be back in September, maybe October. We’re retired now, so it doesn’t matter.

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

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Living aboard Play d'eau

Beaucette, Guernsey

14 June 2013 Piers du Pré Leave a comment

The quietness and tranquillity of Beaucette Marina, Guernsey
*click to enlarge*

Have you ever wondered about coming to Beaucette Marina? Ever wondered how the marina was created – its history from quarry to marina? And what about the restaurant which seems to have changed hands a number of times over the last few years – is it OK?

Having taken many calls from friends and colleagues asking us these questions, we’ve created new pages on this website which hopefully answer the questions so we don’t have to keep repeating ourselves!

We look forward to welcoming you – just come along and knock on the door.

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

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Living aboard Play d'eau

The Beaucette seal, Mr Snore, returns

13 June 2013 Piers du Pré 3 Comments

Beaucette's seal, Mr Snore, returns to raid his larder — Beaucette’s seal, Mr Snore, returns to raid his larder
*click to enlarge*

Mr Snore has returned to Beaucette Marina, Guernsey, on his annual pilgrimage to clear the marina of its large stock of mullet.

For many years, this large seal has visited Beaucette Marina to plunder the mullet which have been fattening themselves for the last year since his last raid.

John of Yacht White Magic knows Mr Snore well

‘He comes every year,’ said John, ‘and clears the marina of all the large mullet leaving just the small ones to grow until he comes back again the next year. He treats Beaucette Marina as his larder.’

At night Mr Snore sleeps under the pontoons, gently bobbing up and down just keeping his nose above the water level.

‘Last year, he was under the pontoon next to my boat,’ added John. ‘He was snoring loudly, and I mean loudly. He woke me up so I went out and shooed him away. He swam up the pontoon a bit and this time, he fell asleep between the hulls of a visiting catamaran.

Mr Snore keeps a sleepy eye on me
*click to enlarge*

Like me, the owners were woken up, but rather than shooing him away they thought it was wonderful and spent the next few hours of night watching him!’

Apparently, it takes Mr Snore a few weeks to empty Beaucette Marina (his larder) of large mullet, and just he appeared today, he’ll be gone around the end of June.

I wonder where he’ll be sleeping? Near Play d’eau? Hmmm.

Piers
from the Saloon of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Beaucette Marina, Guernsey

Beaucette Webcam

Have a look and see Beaucette marina real time, right now, from its webcam.

Maritime info

Beaucette Marina HM office building
*click to enlarge*

There is all the maritime information you need to know about Beaucette Marina, Guernsey, in Reeds Nautical Almanac under Channel Islands, and on the Beaucette website.

However, here are our own observations which you may find of use.

Beaucette Marina, Guernsey – the Entrance

Beaucette Marina’s entrance looks different from others for one reason, alone. Instead of the typical pair of concrete piers you might expect either side of a marina entrance, Beaucette Marina has tall cliff walls which can make the look of the entrance daunting when in fact it really isn’t.

The sill is flat. The north wall is vertical whilst the south wall slopes up at some 45 degrees to the vertical making the entrance wider as the tide rises. When it has 3m of tide over it, the marina manager advises it’s 15m wide – that’s more than at most marinas.

The entrance through the cliffs to Beaucette Marina — The entrance through the cliffs into Beaucette Marina
*click to enlarge*

Let me give you a comparison – Perros Guirrec on the North Brittany coast has concrete piers with a width of only 6m and we’ve been in and out of there and Play d’eau’s beam is 4.9m! Now that’s a challenge.

If you are at all uncertain, just call Beaucette Marina on Ch80 and Ricky, the Marina Manager, will either come out himself or send someone in one of the marina’s dorys to help guide you in.

Beaucette Marina, Guernsey – approach the Play d’eau way

There’s a small 15 degree dogleg to the right in the final 250m before the entrance, and this is how we handle it on our Fleming 55, Play d’eau.

Call Beaucette Marina on Ch80 for clearance to enter. Like many marinas, there’s not room for two to pass.
Keep just south of the middle of the approach channel.
Aim to pass quite close to the last port hand marker.
Having just passed it, straighten up for the entrance.

Beaucette Marina entrance at high tide — When there’s only 3m of tide over the sill
the entrance is already 50’wide
*click to enlarge*

Two more points we bear in mind,

Although Play d’eau can enter at HW+/-3hrs (she has a 1.5m draft) we like to deduct 30 minutes either side to allow the tide to have its initial rush over the sill, first.
After the fun of the entrance and the immediate wonderment of being in such a lovely marina, don’t forget to turn to port into Beaucette Marina’s large marina pool to avoid meeting the small breakwater in front of you!

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

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Aquastar 74 Beaucette Marina Guernsey click to enlarge	Makalu, a Malahide trawler Beaucette Marina Guernsey click to enlarge
Spindrift, a 1905 Zulu fishing boat Beaucette Marina Guernsey click to enlarge	Discovery 55 Beaucette Marina Guernsey click to enlarge

Beaucette Marina’s History

Guernsey quarries

The Royal Engineers creating Beaucette Marina from Beaucette quarry.
Picture taken 4 September 1968
*click to enlarge*

In the 19th century, quarrying was Guernsey’s major industry with 268 quarries being actively worked. Many were hundreds of feet deep and most of the extracted granite was crushed and transported by ship for making roads in the UK. Today, some are used as water reservoirs whilst others have been filled by waste disposal.

The granite of especial interest was the immensely hard blue Diorite granite some of which was used in for the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Beaucette quarry

The disused quarry at Beaucette in Guernsey’s north east parish of Vale, had been bought by Vale Investments Ltd. Given its location close to the sea the plan was to create a marina. But there was one major obstacle – a substantial cliff wall was in the way.

Quotations were obtained from local companies, but the enterprising owner had an idea and contacted The Royal Engineers to ask if they’d like something to blow up – for training purposes, of course.

After a full reconnaissance had been made, it was estimated one officer and nine men could complete the work in just three weeks. With Ministry of Defence approval given on 18th June, 1968, Vale Investments Ltd accepted The Royal Engineer’s estimate of £725 plus the cost of explosives.

The Royal Engineers come to Beaucette, Guernsey

Beaucette entrance at low tide where The Royal Engineers were standing
*click to enlarge*

Work began in early July 1968, but it was quickly realised that the original estimate was extremely optimistic. The reasons were threefold. The ‘normal’ method of loosening rock by boring holes from the top proved unsuccessful due to the immense strength of the Guernsey granite; the hope that the weight of water plus the effect of the tides would be sufficient to open the channel – but it wasn’t; and finally, a severe storm deposited 600 tons of previously excavated rock back into the opening. Hence, the work would take a great deal longer, and be more expensive than had been expected.

Work was suspended on 8th October 1968 pending a further reconnaissance in November to assess the situation and plan for completion of the task.

With 80% of the rock already removed, it was concluded that work could be completed using 2 officers and 60 other ranks between 17th February to 6th June 1969.

The costs

Rather than the original 3 weeks for 10 men, the work took over 7 months and involved more than 60 men.

The immensely strong dark grey Diorite granite can be found in specific places in the walls of Beaucette Marina.The drilling for the explosives are visible at the top of the picture — The immensely strong dark grey Diorite granite can be found in specific places in the walls of Beaucette Marina.
The drilling for the explosives are visible at the top of the picture
*click to enlarge*

From the original £725 plus explosives, it cost some £27,000 including the pay and allowances of the officers and men, but excluding expenses such as accommodation, transportation, use of equipment, and the heavy equipment which had been left at the bottom of the quarry and which remains there to this day.

In the end, matters were settled at a total of £3,300 by Vale Investments ltd, being the original estimate plus a £1,000 ex-gratia payment, and Beaucette Marina, Guernsey, was born.

Questions raised in the House of Commons

On 16th February 1970, further questions were raised in the House of Commons by Mr Roy Roebuck, MP for Harrow East, on the suitability of using the British Army for this type of work.

‘Men of the Royal Engineers blasted rocks (at Beaucette) to facilitate the construction of a yachting marina for a private enterprise company, Vale Investments Ltd. Work costing at least £32,910 has been done for the company, of which the taxpayers have recovered only £3,300. There is a strong presumption, which I hope my hon. Friend will be able to rebut, that the Army has been used as cheap—indeed, free—labour by a private enterprise company to construct a haven for rich men’s yachts.

‘A significant point here is that the people of Guernsey do not contribute a brass farthing to the upkeep of the Services, although many of them are very rich. Indeed, Guernsey is not part of the United Kingdom; it is a Crown dependency which has a special relationship with the United Kingdom because of its proximity and the antiquity of its connection with the Crown. Many of its people are extremely rich, and it is my contention that any work there by agencies sustained by the United Kingdom taxpayer — save possibly acts of mercy carried out at times of emergency — should be paid for in full.

‘The people of Guernsey are taxed at only 4s (20p) in the £, cigarettes cost 2s 2d (11p) for 20, whisky is 32s 6d (£1.63p) a bottle and premium petrol 3s 4d (17p) a gallon. I can see no reason why my constituents are required to dip into their pockets to assist the civil population of Guernsey.’

After debate, Mr Robert Cooke, MP for Bristol West, replied,

‘The Channel Islanders, who are not represented in this House, have been completely vindicated by what the Minister (of Defence for Administration) has said. Obviously the hon. Member for Harrow East…was right to raise the matter. I am very glad…that the Minister has been able in this short debate to prove that what took place was a valuable piece of training, and that there is nothing wrong in private enterprise sometimes being involved in something to the community’s good. I am grateful to the Minister for what he said.

‘I am sure that the motives of the hon. Member for Harrow East in raising the matter in the House were nothing but good. If there was any confusion, I am sure that it is now all settled. As for the rich man’s playground, I gather that this is sometimes enjoyed by the most humble people, who like to get out of the United Kingdom and away from some of the rigours…’

The debate occupied the House for 28 minutes.

Success all round

As was said in the House, on the one hand the exercise at Beaucette quarry was seen as first class training for the Royal Engineers in quarry and rock blasting made unique given the hardness of the granite whilst on the other hand, the Islanders benefitted. Furthermore, it was agreed that responsibility for future estimates would be taken at a higher level than just those concerned, and that instructions had been issued that the assessment of costs must be made with the greatest possible accuracy in future.

Piers
from the library of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Previous boats

Princess V39 – Play d’eau – 1995 to 2013

The first time we used the name Play d’eau was with our Princess V39, bought new in 1995. After eight seasons of great service, we sold her to a good home in 2003, replacing her with another Play d’eau, a Fleming 55.

Our Princess had the optional dark burgundy topsides which we have always thought looked better than the dark blue. A deep vee hull gave the boat an excellent sea performance with precise handling and a smooth ride, even in challenging conditions.

The burgee in the jack staff is that of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club (Guernsey), whilst the dark blue board on the forward stanchions is the Motor Boats Monthly Crusing Club banner.

Helm and cockpit

The helm instruments were set in a burr walnut console.

Alongside were the Morse single lever engine controls with the Bennet trim tabs and separate Volvo outdrive leg controls.

Princess V39 bathing platform — Princess library photo of a V39
without the burgundy topsides
*click to enlarge*

The cockpit had two seating areas on different levels. The larger one in the stern had a ‘U’ shape seating arrangement with removable dining table that dropped down to convert to a large sunbed. The cockpit fridge and wet bar were immediately opposite.

The transom door led to the bathing platform. Telescopic davits folded away when not in use, leaving the bathing platform unencumbered, with a hot and cold transom freshwater shower and bathing ladder.

Forward on the raised level was the second seating area with a small removable table. We had a camper hood fabricated to cover the whole cockpit for two reasons: to ensure a dry ride in lumpy conditions, and to provide a great extra bedroom.

Cruise areas

Play d’eau was cruised from Holland to the Isles of Scilly, and from Westminster on the River Thames to the north coast of Brittany.

L’eau Profile
Our Cougar Predator 35
click to enlarge

Cougar Predator 35 – L’eau profile – 1992 to 1995

After our first boat (a Fletcher 21 Arrowbolt with a 175hp Yamaha outboard which we called Rebels Only), we owned a Cougar Predator 35 between 1992 and 1995 and kept her at Hamble Point Marina on the UK’s south coast.

Being sleek and fast, we called her L’eau Profile.

With her twin Volvo Penta AQAD41 diesels driving dup-prop outdrives, she powered to a shade under 50 knots.Having been unused and left on the hard with no cover for three years by her previous owner, she was in a sad state when we bought her.

Thankfully, her hull was perfect so we set about planning a full refurbishment program. Internally, she was stripped back to the GRP and re-fitted with the addition of a gas cooker for weekending.

The engines and duo-prop outdrives were also stripped and rebuilt, and externally she was polished and re-painted before being launched with great excitement.

The only issue we ever had with L’eau Profile was caused by contaminated fuel. The dreaded diesel bug hit us mid-channel when returning from Alderney in an ’emotional’ sea. We limped home.

A strip down of the fuel system and new filters, combined with copious quantities of Soltron corrected the problem which thankfully never returned. Ever since, we have always added anti-bug treatments to every drop of fuel we take on board.

Cougar 35 engineroom — The bright red engineroom of our Cougar 35 *L’eau Profile*
*click to enlarge*

Cruise Areas

L’eau Profile proved to be a great weekender and we cruised her for three sunny seasons mainly between the Solent and Lulworth Cove on the south coast, and Alderney, Herm, Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel Islands.

The Cougar was a great sea boat of immense strength – we miss her!

Fletcher Arrowbolt 21 – Rebels Only – 1988 to 1992

Our first venture into boating was in 1988 when we bought a Fletcher Arrowbolt 21 speedboat from Quaymarine on the River Hamble, having been assured by the salesman that we could cross the English Channel in her – how naïve was I to believe him!

Calling her Rebels Only, she was fitted with a Yamaha 175hp V6 two-stroke outboard and an inboard fuel tank but little else – not even a bilge pump.

Rebels Only, our Fletcher Arrowbolt 21, being towed by our Renault Savannah in 1988 — *Rebels Only* our Fletcher Arrowbolt 21, being towed by our Renault Savannah in 1988
*click to enlarge*

But she was fast, very fast, achieving nearly 55mph with two up.

We kept her at Hamble Point Marina on her trailer where one hour’s notice was all that was required to have her launched and ready for us to go and play.

As you can imagine, any idea of crossing the Channel was soon dispelled and our cruising ground became the Solent between the Needles and Bembridge, although we’d trailer her on UK family holidays where water-skiing with our sons was often the order of the day.

Did the Yamaha ever let us down? No. It never faltered even for a moment. Did the Fletcher let us down? Only from stress cracks which I suspect were more down to her having been driven hard.

The seed is sown to upgrade

At the time, Hamble Point Marina was owned by the Curtis family of Cougar race boat fame, and whose son, Steve Curtis, was to become the English eight time offshore powerboat racing World Champion.

Maybe seeing these super fast monohulls and catamarans with beautiful Lamborghini engines fuelled the desire for something bigger but still as fast. Maybe being a passenger in a Cougar 46′ monohull when it was test driven at 100mph along Southampton Water was the final trigger. Who knows? Who cares? The decision was made.

It wasn’t too long before my eyes spied a lone Cougar Predator 35 sitting on chocks in a hidden corner of the marina, looking sadly neglected. Asking around, I found she had been bought new by a company that produced snooker tables but that she’d hardly ever been used.

The Fletcher was sold in 1992, and the rest is history….

Cruise Areas

The Solent and Poole.

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

You can get in touch with us any time by using our Contact Form.

Salt

Eggs

Vinegar

Olive oil

Guernsey Butter

The nav plan

Audierne

Arriving

Round the Finistère corner

Tecky details

The calm before the storm

Camaret or Audierne?

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink

Hose fittings or Lunch?

The storm?

Tecky details

Finding our Sea Legs

Taken by surprise

Our first taste of France, 2013

Tecky details

Summer Cruise Leg 1

When will we be back?

John of Yacht White Magic knows Mr Snore well

Beaucette Webcam

Maritime info

Beaucette Marina, Guernsey – the Entrance

Beaucette Marina, Guernsey – approach the Play d’eau way

Guernsey quarries

Beaucette quarry

The Royal Engineers come to Beaucette, Guernsey

The costs

Questions raised in the House of Commons

Success all round

Princess V39 – Play d’eau – 1995 to 2013

Helm and cockpit

Cruise areas

Cougar Predator 35 – L’eau profile – 1992 to 1995

Cruise Areas

Fletcher Arrowbolt 21 – Rebels Only – 1988 to 1992

The seed is sown to upgrade

Cruise Areas

These were the voyages of Piers and Lin du Pré aboard their Fleming 55