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 21 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Roscoff – 30 August 2013

Large patches of weed were waiting to strangle our props and rudders

Three weeks ago when we left Rochefort, we had the distinct feeling we were starting our journey home; latitude was increasing and we were heading north – homeward bound. The feeling became a reality yesterday on reaching L’Aber Wrac’h …

Continue reading Leg 21 – L’Aber Wrac’h to Roscoff – 30 August 2013

Leg 20 – Camaret to L’Aber Wrac’h – 29 August 2013

We left Camaret in thick fog

Yes, yes, yes! Fog – and lots of it. Maybe 100m maximum. So today we’d be on full weapons using our new radar seriously after all these hours of practising. And let’s not forget the Kahlenbergs and their auto-signaller for those four second blasts every two minutes …

Continue reading Leg 20 – Camaret to L’Aber Wrac’h – 29 August 2013

Rounding the Brest Peninsula

This pigeon rested on Play d'eau for ten hours

We are about to head for the Brest peninsula to take advantage of the neap tides. This will involve us travelling from La Roche Bernard via Port Louis (Lorient), Port La Foret, Camaret and L’Aber Wrac’h, in the next few days …

Continue reading Rounding the Brest Peninsula

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

A perfect lunch - Pate de Campagne Echalotte and baguette

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 …

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

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

Our first cold pression this year - hard not to order more....

The sea was calm as the sun woke from its night’s dreams to peek over Herm, creating an orange brushstroke between the dark 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 …

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

Goodbye cabin fever – hello Brittany!

The St Peter Port water taxi, fondly known as the 'St peter Port exocet missile'

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 …

Continue reading Goodbye cabin fever – hello Brittany!