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

We won!

The RCIYC (Guernsey) Cruising Trophy
click to enlarge

We won the RCIYC Cruising Trophy!

Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club

My father, Derek du Pré, a Jerseyman and keen sailor had been a member of the RCIYC for many years.

Following in his footsteps, it was de rigueur to join which we did soon after purchasing our first Play d’eau, a Princess V39.

Shall we? Shan’t we?

Soon after returning from our brilliant cruise of the west coast of France last year, the RCIYC asked members to submit their 2013 cruising logs to see who might be awarded their Cruising Trophy.

‘Come on,’ said Lin, ‘it’s worth a try.’

I did. We emailed the RCIYC Secretary.

We won!

The Merrill Lyle Cruising Trophy
with Play d’eau and our names on it!
click to enlarge

And we won! It was so exciting. But what exactly had we won?

At the club, Stuart Crisp, Commodore, presented us with the Trophy. A 9″ intricate ivory carving of a Chinese skiff. It’s so detailed, so beautiful.

I couldn’t help but think of Dad, who, in his 21′ sailing boat, Alouette, would sail the islands, the French coast, and race against the Jersey RNLI in foul weather.

I wondered what his cruising logs would have looked like?

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

5 comments to We won!

  • Hil

    FANTASTIC! FANTASTIC! And WELL DONE! That is brilliant news-and Dad would have been so proud-and so should you be, too. I am proud and thrilled (but not surprised).

    Lots of love, Hil x x

  • Matt

    I think I remember Alouette from when I was a boy, moored on the 2nd row in front of St. Helier YC?

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