By all accounts, the breach at Norton Point remains healthy. Its effect upon the tides and currents at the Chappy ferry crossing is remarkable. The incoming current continues to run strong for an hour after high tide. Often the water will form an eddy at the corner of the wharf while on the opposite shore the water is still. It looks as if that breach will exist for a long time to come.
The harbor seal has been spending an unusual amount of time lolling around the harbor. It’s a pretty big critter, about the size of a pony and from a distance having the appearance of a black lab swimming.
The local ospreys have been pulling fish out of the water. More often than not it looks as if they aren’t going to get airborne again with such large catches. One afternoon we saw the seal appear right behind an osprey that had just cleared the water with a fish in its talons. It was such a close encounter that it was unclear if the bird had stolen the fish from the seal. I like to tell derby participants that the seal just went by with the winning albacore in its teeth.
The Chappy Community Center is still busy. This month, yoga with Craig is on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m. On the CCC calendar, Rebecca has one more yoga session on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 8:30 a.m. The potluck supper is on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring a dish to serve eight. The book club will be discussing Patrick Keefe’s mystery novel London Falling on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Now that the weather has cooled off, ticks will be even more active than they were during the hot dry days of August. If you missed the Project Chappy Tick Webinar that was hosted live back on August 3, you can still watch it on replay. Find the link on the Chappy Island Association Facebook page.
The Islands of Hawaii have been suffering under the onslaught of a string of hurricanes. No storms are currently active in the Atlantic, but the systems that affect the Vineyard often form over the Bahamas, basically right on our doorstep. That doesn’t give a whole lot of time to prepare. As the Weather Channel likes to point out, now is the height of the hurricane season. Check either the National Hurricane Center or Mike’s Weather Page so that you aren’t taken by surprise.
This article appears in September 11, 2026.