Torshavn

[Scooot]

There's a glimmer of hope for the eclipse

[Pete Presland]

That is more blue sky than we have seen in Bedfordshire so far.

[Scooot]

I think that was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

We arrived on P&Os Oriana early this morning and despite setting my alarm for 7 I was up and about just after 6, it was mostly cloudy with the odd patch of sky. A ship aboard announcement later informed us that it was too windy to dock so we were sailing over to the other side of the island. This turned out to be very fortunate for us because when we dropped anchor the sun was on the port side and if clear we'd get a good view from our balcony. On this side of the island it was very calm and the the ship was very stable.

So at around 8.30 I was well placed with my camera, 10x50s with Kendrick solar filters and a cup of coffee. The sky was still very cloudy but thin in places. I set the bins on the monopod and as a thin patch appeared I got my first glimpse of the moon as it started its journey across the face of the sun. Thin cloud was rushing across but the view was fantastic and then it was gone. This was the theme over the next 40 minutes or so, occasionally it was blacked out completely but once or twice it was as clear as it could be. This was the case at about half way when it was so clear I would have seen sun spots if there were any.

As 9.40 approached the crescent was alternating between thin and thick cloud but even so I could see it shrinking during glimpses. To the left there was quite a large blue patch but steadily getting greyer as the light faded. We were willing it to drift nearer. Three minutes to go and it was brightening. We could see the crescent with our naked eye. Then back to the filters with the bins. It was clearing, I couldn't believe it. Totally clear as 9.40 approached and there it was, totality and Wows from all over the ship. I was looking in awe, it was amazing, the ring around the sun, such an experience, so hard to describe. I snapped away hoping to capture it. And then just as quickly as it disappeared, the sun began to reappear.

We are so thrilled to have seen this, and I managed a couple of good pics which I can't get off my camera yet. We're hoping to see the northern lights but if we don't this experience is worth the trip on its own. I'll never forget it, it was awesome!

[greglloyd]

Superb. You could even see from here at 95% just how quickly the moon went through the max phases. Literally as you watched. It was like a smile tilting from bottom left, to bottom, then bottom right - with a big drop in light. It must have been awesome for you as a total!

[Astro Imp]

Great report Richard, I could sense your excitement as I was reading your description and what a bonus the northern lights will be.

Good luck.

[Beulah]

Amazing account. Thank you.  

[LukeSkywatcher]

This might seem a bit pedantic, but how long was the sail from UK to Torshavn?. I would have thought you'd need to be there the day before to be on time for totality. 

[Scooot]

This might seem a bit pedantic, but how long was the sail from UK to Torshavn?. I would have thought you'd need to be there the day before to be on time for totality.

We set sail on Tuesday evening, strangely we went west from Southampton around Lands End but it was probably calmer than going via the North Sea.

[Scooot]

We were so lucky to see it. Having seen it and knowing what it was like if I had a bucket list this would be right up near the top. Watching the lead up with the bins was fantastic as well, having the sun more or less fill the FOV was a huge improvement over the little solar specs. Neither of us really new what to expect but jane was just as much in awe over it as me. I'll post a couple of pics when i get back, I'm quite chuffed with those as well. I can't stop thinking about it.

[Scooot]

Out of interest, who's changed my avatar lol and how.

[dick_dangerous]

I considered going to the Faeroes for this - it's somewhere I've wanted to go for a long time anyway. I thought to myself, "Nah, no chance of seeing it. I'll be better off with the partial in London."

How wrong I was! Slate grey skies over Barnes and it got a bit dark. Several of our volunteers were stood hopefully on a balcony looking east, but it was a total non-event. And by 1pm we had totally clear skies - you've got to love the UK weather!

DD

[Scooot]

You still might not have seen it if you'd gone Dck. I've since heard they didn't see it in Torshavn. Apparently an ITN crew were meant to board the ship there, but strong winds in the narrow harbour meant we couldn't dock until we returned later in the morning. So we were only able to see it because we'd sailed to the other side of Streymore Island. The ITN crew consequently missed it. I'm not sure why they were planning to board, presumably they thought they'd get a better view.

I've heard some interesting tales around the ship. Last night in one of the bars/lounges, a lady was telling us how emotional she found the whole experience. To such an extent she said she'd burst into tears. A recurring theme seems to be that although people knew what happened, they weren't prepared for the atmosphere, the build up, and the effect as the moon with its ring suddenly pings into view.

At breakfast an elderly lady was telling us how she'd become an eclipse chaser. Born in the 1920s she's seen them in Zimbabwe , Turkey, China, 1999 in the UK, twice in Australia and now the Faroes. She's planning to go to America next year. China was clouded out but the best one for her was Turkey. She said if possible it's better to see them from on land. As the light fades, the wildlife reacts as if night is approaching. Birds cease singing and everywhere falls silent. Her husband has now passed away so she now travels to them with a mutually interested lady friend.

[Stu]

Fabulous stuff, well worth the trip!! [emoji2][emoji2]