Total Solar Eclipse
The planned catamaran trip just so happens to coincide with the total solar eclipse and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
Marco
8/17/20262 min read
For days now, news websites have been reporting that roads in Mallorca are being closed, and that the military is even being called in to maintain security and prevent people from lighting bonfires whilst watching the total solar eclipse. Even maritime radio is warning that heavy shipping traffic is expected along the west coast. So what else is there to do but go and see it for yourself?
First up is a visit to the island of Cabrera. It was purely by chance that I managed to snap up one of the moorings that require a booking; the week was fully booked throughout. We walk up to the castle and watch a perfectly ordinary sunset. It’s beautiful, and the solar eclipse would have been a dream to watch from here too. We don’t know exactly how many people actually crowded onto the small platform. But there’s no doubt that it must have been very crowded.
So let’s head for the Tramuntana. Reaching the anchorage as early as Tuesday was neither the plan nor a realistic prospect given the time constraints. So, after a lovely stop in Peguera, we’re off to the wild west coast. Just like many other yachts. We pass through the narrow channel between the mainland and Dragonera Island and can finally set sail. Before that, as is so often the case, the wind is blowing directly from the direction we’re heading, making it impossible to make any real headway in a catamaran.
As expected, the few anchorage bays along the west coast are hopelessly overcrowded. We’re usually happy to squeeze in, but the anchorage must be reliable. Here, however, there are likely to be plenty of rocks. So we’re enjoying the solar eclipse on board with an almost unobstructed view. Two floating mass-accommodation vessels belonging to the Aida Group are on their way, but fortunately they remain just out of our line of sight. And so, under sail, we witness the sun growing ever darker. Until the moment arrives: the moon completely covers the sun. Only a glowing ring remains visible, reminiscent of the opening sequence of the film The Lord of the Rings.
This uplifting moment lasts just two minutes. But it doesn’t really get any brighter after that; eventually, the sun sinks below the horizon, before one of those stupid Aidas chugs across the screen just seconds after sunset.
We don’t have to wait long before the first shooting stars appear. The crew can enjoy this spectacle, though we’re a bit annoyed that the navigation lights are faulty whilst under sail due to a broken lamp on the port side. With the lights flickering on and off, we sail through the night until, at 6.00 am, we reach our destination and drop anchor on the sandy seabed. What an exciting night!
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