Following on from the undoubted success of our Summer Solstice row, we thought it might be a good idea to mark another, much rarer, astronomical event – a 94% solar eclipse – too. So, on Wednesday 12th August, on a lovely calm evening, Elisa, Catherine, Karen, Finlay, Gavin and Douglas joined a flotilla from the Sailing Club out on the Forth.
When we met in the clubhouse we were all keen to show off our various ‘instruments’ that would allow us to observe the eclipse safely. We had a colander, a tin lid that looked like the worst colander ever, and two bits of card covered in white paper that Blue Peter would have been proud of. Fortunately, we also had a pair of proper eclipse glasses courtesy of Gavin, and Finlay’s Grandad’s superb old sextant – a genuinely beautiful antique instrument equipped with appropriate filters, too.
A selection of eclipse-viewing tools!
We set off a wee while before the eclipse was going to start and initially rowed along to have a closer look at the Xin Yoa Hua, the large ship anchored off Burntisland that week, before heading back to join the assembled yachts. Just after 6pm, with the sun partially obscured by light cloud cover, the eclipse started. It then became apparent that the colander and the card weren’t going to cut it – it simply wasn’t bright enough. That said, the eclipse glasses and the sextant were brilliant. Even through the hazy clouds you could clearly see the passage of the moon across the sun. As the eclipse moved on, the chill in the air coupled to the stillness of the water added to a sense of something being just a little special.
Heavy lift ship Xin Yoa Hua in the background
Cox Elisa observing the eclipse through a sextant
As everyone on the East Coast knows, the cloud cover gradually grew thicker, making the eclipse hard to observe – even through the decent instruments. Indeed, by then, our colander was barely creating a shadow!
It was then we realised that while we had been looking skyward we had drifted gently East – almost back alongside the big ship – so some proper rowing was required to get us home to the pontoon.
Enjoying the semi-light of the evening eclipse
The sailing club flotilla rafted up
Like the Midsummer Night’s row, the conditions for rowing were perfect. Clearly in 2026 we need to align our rows with major astronomical events. I’m already digging out warm clothing and looking forward to the Winter Solstice!
Report by Douglas Young
