Julian and Lucie Hawkings, decided during 2015 that they would venture back into the world of boating and the Scottish West Coast.

 

In the 1980's Julian spent 8 years running wildlife holidays aboard a converted Fishing Trawler - The Glendale - as part of the 'Beagle Cruises Ltd' holiday experience. A book by his fellow crew member, (Trawling for Eagles by Stephen Younger) whet his appetite to return to Scotland and the sea - the hunt for a yacht began.

 

After several family bareboat charters, Julian had decided on the Bavaria 46 Cruiser as his first choice vessel. A long search ensued, which involved visits around Europe. Deja Vue was finally located in a warehouse in the German Baltic, where she had been laid up unused for 3 years.

 

A tip off from a broker saying she might be of interest, prompted a flight in mid December 2015 to have a viewing. Having lost out on a '46' in the Netherlands, which had appeared to tick many boxes, the first glimpse of Deja Due made Julian realise that he had just hit the jackpot.

 

She had more bells and whistles than Julian would normally ever have asked for and had been cosseted and laid up very professionally by an owner who although he had changed craft had maintained his love for his 'spare' boat. 

 

On his return from Germany Julian immediately put in an offer, which after a minimal amount of haggling was accepted.

 

Deja Vue left Schleswig, with a professional crew, at the end of April 2016 in fairly inclement weather, and journeyed under sail and power through the Kiel canal, down the coasts of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, crossing the English Chanel to the Kent Coast. She then sailed along the South Coast of England, around Lands End and up the Irish Sea, finally arriving at her new berth in Largs Yacht Haven, Firth of Clyde. Scotland on 5th. May 2019.

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Despite the inclement weather the only problem Deja Vue encountered on her 1125 nautical mile trip, was the lightbulb in the stern light failing in the middle of the Straits of Dover causing a diversion into Ramsgate for a spare! A good trip indeed.

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May and June were spent refitting Deja Vue, the whole family being involved. Registering her as a "British Ship' was probably the most difficult and entertaining of the necessary tasks as all 'sale' documents being in German , required certified official translations before registration could take place! Eventually having added a liferaft, ship's tender, storm sails and a mass of other 'essential' bits and pieces, she passed her MCA coding survey.

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Shortly afterwards she had her first commercial charter!

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DV Charter was born.

 

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