The Chappy Ferry steering committee met on Tuesday. It discussed expanding the work of the sea level rise consultants to include probable configuration of a third ferry boat and accounting for that in the ramp and slip adaptations to climate change. The town administrator is proceeding with retaining a consultant to evaluate the various options for ferry ownership and governance.

At the next select board meeting, to be held on the Tuesday after Labor Day, the board will consider a recommendation from the steering committee to suspend the so-called cut line during the period of time that only one ferry is in service. Each year, one of ferryboats is hauled out of the water for a U.S. Coast Guard inspection and for maintenance. This year the shorter of the two vessels will remain in service to handle all of the traffic alone.

Customarily, during the approximately six-week period between the end of the Derby and Thanksgiving, the cut line is discontinued to encourage those with cut line privileges to make alternative plans or to avoid big projects during that time. See the town of Edgartown website for the Sept. 5 meeting time and Zoom link.

Here’s another reminder that the U.S. Coast Guard will inspect the Chappy Ferry boats on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 5. Yearly safety inspections are performed while the vessels are in the water. The exact time of the arrival of the inspectors will be known closer to the date. For approximately two hours, only one ferry will be in service while the other is inspected. Expect a delay.

Both Hurricane Franklin and Hurricane Idalia are staying well clear of the Vineyard. The lesson in the formation of Idalia is that it occurred just a short distance from Florida and packed winds of 120 miles per hour as it came ashore on the Florida Panhandle.

It seems that, these days, fewer storms that form far out over the Atlantic reach New England. We used to watch for the dust storms on the African desert to turn into hurricanes, taking a dozen days to arrive here. Now, they often form right over the Bahamas.

Keep an eye on the website of the National Hurricane Center or Mike’s Weather page.