Next Wednesday, August 12, around 8:30 p.m., the moon will pass between Spain and the sun during a total eclipse—the first to be seen on the Iberian Peninsula in 114 years. And much of the country has decided to watch it from the water: from A Coruña to the Balearic Islands, passing through Asturias, Cantabria, Bizkaia, Castellón, Valencia, and Tarragona, the path of totality coincides with some of Spain’s most popular sailing routes—and recreational boaters, as marinas are well aware—are already in short supply. In the Balearic Islands, in fact, the Association of Nautical Companies reports that there are practically no boats left to rent.
In light of the upcoming event, the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine (DGMM) has issued a resolution with recommendations to ensure the festivities do not lead to a collision. The assessment by the agency, led by Ana Núñez, is straightforward: many people looking up at the sky, daylight fading in a matter of minutes, and a sea that is suddenly much more crowded than usual are all factors that call for caution. Its message, summed up in the slogan used by Maritime Rescue to promote it on social media—#SensatezEnElMar—is this: the show is in the sky, but responsibility remains at the helm.
First, steer the ship; second, look up
On its social media accounts, Maritime Rescue recommends that, during the eclipse, you remain constantly vigilant and, whenever possible, have someone other than the skipper observe the phenomenon while the skipper continues to steer the vessel; check the navigation lights and use them if visibility decreases; carry all required safety equipment on board; maintain a constant watch on VHF channel 16 and follow Salvamento Marítimo’s instructions; do not exceed the maximum number of people authorized for the vessel; maintain a sufficient safety distance from other vessels, and if you decide to anchor to observe the eclipse, do so only in safe and permitted areas, avoiding navigation channels, port entrances, maneuvering zones, and any area where anchoring could hinder maritime traffic. Maritime Rescue reminds everyone that the priority is to ensure that observing the eclipse never distracts from navigation or from compliance with navigation regulations.
The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea remain fully in force, and the DGMM adds that, before setting sail, it is advisable to have decided on the course, the observation point, and the approximate time of return, in addition to checking the weather forecast and notifying someone on shore of the intended route. Since light levels will drop significantly during the phase of maximum occultation, it’s a good idea to check your navigation lights beforehand and have them ready to turn on.
As for anchoring, the DGMM also asks that you avoid Posidonia seagrass beds and other sensitive seabeds. To look directly at the sun, only eclipse-approved glasses or filters should be used: do not use conventional sunglasses, binoculars, cameras, or telescopes without specific protection.
The agency warns that the most critical moment will not be during the eclipse, but afterward: when hundreds of boats decide to return to port at the same time. That is why it is asking yacht clubs and marinas to strengthen access management and encourage a staggered return, avoiding rushes and crowding at harbor entrances and through canals.
Tugboats, lifeboats, and helicopters on standby
The Maritime Rescue operation for August 12 will be significantly reinforced in the Balearic Islands, where up to 70 professionals will work throughout the day on patrol boats stationed in the areas of the islands where the highest levels of boating activity are expected. The goal is to respond to the exceptional increase in boaters who will take to the sea to view the eclipse and to ensure safety on a day when a much higher-than-usual concentration of vessels is expected.
The Balearic Islands Government has not been left behind and has prepared an extraordinary prevention and surveillance plan in anticipation of the expected influx of visitors to natural areas and the coastline. IBANAT will deploy 161 forest firefighters, including 49 special reinforcements: 93 in Mallorca, 23 in Menorca, 39 in Ibiza, and six in Formentera. They will be joined by 35 environmental agents.
Nationwide, the government has mobilized a force of more than 33,600 officers and established 123 exclusion zones where access will be prohibited for environmental reasons or due to the difficulties that an evacuation would pose. The official estimate is for between 1.8 and 2.9 million people to travel to the more than 350 viewing sites set up along the path of totality.
