The Good Ship Diva

01/20/2024

Next stop, Mayreau

12/20/2023

Back in my Granville days, I discovered it was a waaaay good thing to have Holly E Gano as a friend and the importance of staying in her good side (not sure she’s capable of having a ‘bad’ side - but never wanted to chance it!).

For many Christmases, Holly would make and gift people her infamous English Toffee. So yummy and a delightful addition to more traditional Xmas cookies.

She quit the making/gifting at one point. After getting past my withdrawal issues and confirming I had not been put on any naughty list, I got her recipe and picked up the baton and carried on with the tradition, of making/gifting. It’s a lot of work as it requires focus, patience and great effort to keep from getting 3rd degree burns - none of that comes easy to me.

Geoff suggested we put a Carribean spin on the recipe by adding some chocolate from Trini and toasted coconut in the topping - Diva Toffee was born.

So, 16lbs of butter, 21lbs of sugar and a kitchen coated w much stickiness I give a special nod and Merry Christmas to Holly.

11/20/2023

Good morning Football (the yankee version) Fans! Does anybody know a venue in Grenada that might be showing the Michigan-Ohio State game on Saturday? Per MI Athletics site, Kickoff 1pm EST which means 1400 hrs here. Go Blue! 🏈

05/28/2023

W***h’s Log Seadate 05.27.23 photo dump part 1, pre infectious disease and all things going to hell.
Mandy Safron Geoff Safron

04/08/2023

W***h log sea date: 04/05/2023 “What happened, where did we go?!?” - I keep getting asked.

So here it is, an update for some and a much delayed thank you to many more…..

As it happened, all of Hades decided to break loose around February 12th.

First, my mom passed away. This was quickly followed up with Geoff contracting a mysterious staph infection, we now believe came from a scraped up arm he encountered while snorkeling around Sandy Beach in Cariacou.

Between then and now, here’s a summary of Geoff’s life:
- 2 weeks in Grenada hospital, w one surgery
- Medical evacuation to Detroit
- 4 more weeks in US hospital
- Sepsis infection that made it to his bones: clavicle, spine other places?!?
- 2 more small surgeries
- Gallons of IV antibiotics
- Excruciating back pain
- Inability to move one of his fingers
- Other medical mysteries that put him in front of about 20 ish very curious docs in multiple disciplines.

He’s been a complete mess from head to toe, for over 8 weeks - and the mess continues. While he just got out of the hospital earlier this week, he’s still battling the infection with help of in home nurse visits and even more antibiotics. And, as the infection has made a mess of his spine, we just learned there’s a spinal surgery in his immediate future.

That’s the update part.

The thank you part goes out to all our fellow Prickly Bay cruisers that assisted Geoff getting to Diva, then from Diva to the hospital via a Coast Guard rescue. Thanks to all those sailors that assisted us with getting Diva buttoned up for the season and those that continue to watch over her. Our appreciation goes to the Grenadian medical folks at SAMS, all the bus and Haylup drivers, and staff at Thrillers Apts. Gratitude goes out to the as usual excellent Royal Oak Beaumont staff, docs, nurses - ALL - superb, professional, warm and helpful for weeks. And, thanks to all our pals, your support and help has been incredible!

So, yes our first snow birding attempt was thwarted, but we will overcome all this, and be back in Grenada (and adventures beyond) in the fall!!!
Grenada Cruisers Thrillers Apartment st. augustine medical services inc. Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Academy haylup.gd PRICKLY BAY MARINA Corewell Health Infectious Diseases Society of America Mandy Safron Geoff Safron

02/05/2023

01/30/2023

W***h’s Log SeaDate 28Jan2023
Hog [Island] Heaven.

01/05/2023

W***h’s log sea date 5 Jan 23, supplemental

Shhhhh, it’s a secret.

Dighny-ed over to this place for dinner and to check it out. Discover I’m NOT a fan of being in the dinghy in open ish water w 4-6’ swells. So, I’m admitting some defeat in that I had Geoff (who wasn’t the slightest bit afraid) dinghy back home while I walked it back.

Almost stupidness: at one point we decided to NOT dinghy back and both walk home and come back for dinghy next day. Twoulda been a fine plan, until we made the 30 min walk to Prickly only to then remember we had no way to get over to Diva! 🙄

01/04/2023

W***h’s log sea date 5 Jan 23.

Yes, bingo. We’re still needing to come ashore for dins, so decided to get into the spirit of the local marina restaurant and play Bingo - as advertised on the morning radio, prizes included $1000’s of dollars OR animals. Haha.

So, picking up our card and pen I ask “so, what’s the big prize?” to a fellow bingo’er. Very matter of factly as he riffles thru the bingo cards w/o looking up replies ”A goat”. Pause, on my part then: “A live one?!?!” I ask. ”Yes” the answer. “What am I spose to do with a goat?!?!” I ask. Still concentrating on card selection his reply “take it to your boat”. Another, card picker perks up and says “Yea, a local lady won 10 pigs last year!”

So, bring on the bingo competition- would we could we with a goat? Would we could we on a boat? You betcha

01/04/2023

W***h’s log, sea-date 4 January 2023

Long time since last post, first time posting to the Good Ship Diva page.

Much has happened since October when we got to Trini:

Most of the work we’d hoped was getting completed between April and Oct didn’t happen, despite my efforts to beg all involved to do just that, before we left in April. So, we lived, miserably on the hard in a hot, buggy boat yard for 6ish weeks. Major stupidness with Trini customs that lasted weeks didn’t help either!

Tried, rather unsuccessfully, to take out frustration on sewing projects. Seat covers, bed cushion, a much needed Bimini (now with solar Bistro Lights!!!).

Got a new bow thruster and custom made hatch door, dinghy chaps, some some stainless work, much engine work. Left Trini end of December bound for Grenada with an iffy outboard dighy motor, faulty fuel gauges (see running out of fuel in middle of the ocean, below). frustrated, disappointed, scared (everyone kept warning of the Christmas winds!) and without crew (too close to Holidays). Maybe this in part is why we also packed up, sold or gave away everything from land locker - with the possibility of not returning Diva to Trini. TBD.

Xing - not horrible but still not a bit of fun. It’s a grueling 15-17 hours mostly done during the night, and doing little more than clinging to the boat for dear life. Also, engine cut out mid way across - bad fuel gauges - had to use back up fuel from jerry cans, sailed some, and eventually limped Diva in and found a lovely mooring in Prickly Bay.

US for Xmas to be with friends and fam. We got lots of fishing stuff, I can’t wait to use - still noone thinks I should and could handle a harness fishing sitch - oh well. Had a lovely boat sitter and her kitty take care of Diva whilst away.

Saw NYE fireworks from the boat’s deck - a first. Found local brewery with spa, another first, 2 new marinas, grocery store. Worked with Taxis and Haylup (Grenada uber). We tune in to the “Net” every morning hosted by Grenada cruisers - very useful and fun info.

Generator has developed a significant hiccup - so no AC (no sympathy, I know), no on board laundry, fridge and freezer - barely work, feeling a little dead in the water. And, all mechanics are overbooked from holidays.

Additionally started an herb garden. Geoff almost sank the boat doing a bilge repair - a true finger in the d**e story he should share (complete only if he includes all the MANY nasty words used!) and we won a bag of beer in a our first Caribbean trivia contest!

We are so happy to be in Grenada, fish are jumpin’, and the water is a high-ly greenish blue. People are friendly, and helpful. I think we’re gonna like it here. Looking forward to exploring and learning all there is to know. In fact, anyone from the sailing community feel liking sharing must see or do in Grenada, and possible day sailing locations - pls do!

12/15/2022

Blue water at last!

12/08/2022

Sitting’ at the dock of the bay
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes
Wastin' time

12/06/2022

Back in the big wet, at last.