US Land Logs 8, Year 4: Ode to Silvie
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Weather: Not Important
Location: East Falmouth, Massachusetts
As you sail around the world, the cruisers you meet become like family.  Some you meet are like distant cousins that you would rather not see too often, but others become like sisters and brothers. Silvie was in the ‘sister’ category for me. She was from Windcastle and I from Windbird. Our paths crossed many times during the first year of our circumnavigation. We met in Balboa, Panama, just after coming through the Panama Canal. Silvie was a number of years younger than I, but we immediately bonded. She was from Mexico City sailing around the world with Doug from San Juan Capistrano, California. Last night we received an email from Doug telling us that Silvie died last Saturday evening in Lamen Bay, Epi Island, Vanuatu. She died just hours after taking MMS (Miracle Mineral Solution), a product she purchased from a fellow cruiser. Words cannot convey the sadness we feel in our hearts. Silvie brought joy and love to everyone’s she met and it just doesn’t seem possible that life was taken from her so quickly and
needlessly. Our hearts are broken and we so wish we were closer so we could help Doug deal with this tragedy.
We met Doug and Silvie in Balboa at a meeting of cruisers headed across the Pacific. Afterwards we had dinner at a two-for-one pizza restaurant and sat at a table with Silvie and Doug and Patrick and Margaret of Aqua Magic. Silvie gave Mark Spanish lessons while we ate and that was the beginning of our friendship. Silvie, Margaret of Aqua Magic, and I shopped ’til we dropped in Panama City as we provisioned for the trip from Panama to the Galapagos. There are the memories of Silvie dancing in the streets of Panama City during Carnival, sharing my 59th birthday while anchored off Espiritu Santo in the Las Perlas Islands, trying to row our dinghies up the Rio Cacique, and just generally enjoying life from anchorage to anchorage. Once we reached the Galapagos, we walked to the top of Mount Crocker, the highest point on Santa Cruz Island together. It was a long, hot climb, but at the top Silvie made us all smile as she opened her arms to the heavens.  Riding horses to the top of Sierra Negra on Isabella and exploring the volcanic rim together with Doug and Silvie and our daughter Heather and her husband Jed was just a wonderful, unforgettable day. Silvie picked some of the wild flowers growing along the rim to make herself a bouquet and then flung herself down volcanic cinders just to celebrate life. And after sailing the 3,000 miles from the Galapagos to the Marqueses, the first boat we saw in the Bay of Virgins in Fatu Hiva was Windcastle. Months later, we sat together in a little church in Tonga to hear the new King address the people for the first time since his brother’s dealth and then we made the crossing to New Zealand together. The last time we saw Doug and Silvie was in Opua, New Zealand. Our paths have not crossed since then, but we have always stayed in contact via email. We were so looking forward to meeting them in Thailand this next January and crossing the Indian Ocean together. We are certainly going to miss them, and we can’t even imagine what Doug must be going through at this point. Our thoughts are certainly with him.
Silvie’s death is a very abrupt reminder of just how quickly life can slip
away and a rude reminder of just how important it is to live each moment to the fullest. That is what Silvie would want each and every one of us to do. She would want us all to live, love, laugh, and be happy.
Silvie, we love you and will miss you so very much. The world was a happier place with you here, but we can each try to bring joy to the world in your absence.
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| 090811 Silvie |
My condolences on the loss of your friend Silvie. The post had me looking to learn a bit more about MMS and came across this comment on earthclinic.com. If you find out more about her reaction to the product, please post. http://is.gd/2h5R1
Hope your summer is going well?
I’m so sorry to hear about the untimely passing of your dear friend, Silvie. What a beautiful tribute to her. I love the photos, especially the one of her celebrating on top of the mountain.
I had never heard of MMS and looked it up, too. All the comments made it sound like a miracle drug. Someone needs to spread the word that it can be dangerous.
I am Doug Nash’s sister in Riverside, Calif. Just by randomly searching the Web a few days ago, I came upon your website; and seeing your “Ode to Silvie,” I just can’t tell you how touched I am that you shared your thoughts and wonderful photos of them with the world. We all are still reeling from Silvie’s sudden passing and waiting with Doug to learn autopsy results of the cause of her death. They left my house on May 5 for their return to Windcastle in Fiji, then on to Vanuatu, both so excited to get back to their passion for cruising.
Never could I have imagined that the next photos of them would be under these circumstances upon discovery of your website purely by accident, or what I now say, by destiny.
Doug is currently in New Zealand spending this week with Bob and Cindy in Opua, then he will be returning to Port Vila to deal with the next steps in his life without his dear Silvie.
Judy, even though we are strangers, I want to thank you beyond words for your shared thoughts in posting this tribute to Silvie. Doug has often told me how closely knit like family the cruising community is, and you are proof that his words are a witness to this. I am so grateful to you for showing this kindness, so his family here stateside can be blessed by you sharing a piece of your friendship with them. Thankyou so very very much. I wish you and your husband continued good sailing!
With heartfelt gratitude, Debbie Nash
I am Doug Nash’s sister in Riverside, CA. Thankyou for your tribute to Silvie and the wonderful photos that we can enjoy from afar. I am touched by your thoughtfulness. We all are still reeling from Silvie’s sudden passing, and await autopsy reports as to the cause. Doug is spending this week in NZ, then returns to Port Vila to deal with the next steps in his life without his dear Silvie.
Hi!! My name is Aretha and I’m Sylvie’s daughter… thanks for all your love and sharing this beautiful pictures…
It’s very nice to know that she was sorrounden by good and loving friends
xoxo
A.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.
I am so saddened to hear about Sylvie’s untimely passing. Doug must be so devastated by the loss of his wonderful wife and sailing partner. They shared some very spectacular adventures. May God give him the grace and strength
to find peace.
Your tribute is beautiful!
Judy (an old sailing friend)