With apologies to Ratty of Wind in the Willows, for many Islanders, autumn is the best season to mess about in boats. September and October, and even November bring excellent sailing weather.

On top of that, the harbors are not congested. In autumn, the busy, noisy harbors of summer turn into quiet fields of floating buoys, drifting seagulls and an occasional fish breaking the surface.

FAIR WINDS: Petrel, a 70 foot, two inch, yawl that has been out of the water at Tisbury Marine Railway, on Beach Road, for five years was taken apart on Monday and most of it trucked away. Some of its parts are on their way to California, including her mast, to be incorporated in another yet-to-be-built vessel.

Petrel was built in 1938 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was a Sparkman and Stephens design wood sailboat. Owen Stephens, a world-class boat designer, had a significant hand in her design. He is well-known for designing America’s Cup sailboats.

A 128-year-old painting of a Vineyard sheriff has been rehung in the Edgartown courthouse after extensive restoration. The painting of Sheriff Frances Cottle Smith was accidentally slashed from behind while in storage when the courtroom was repainted four years ago.

And behind an oil painting with an accidental slash lies an intricate family story.

The restoration work was spearheaded by Ann A. Perkins — a Los Angeles resident who is the great-great-granddaughter of the subject in the portrait — and her husband, John.

Call it a race to the top for the old pros. With the end of the 66th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby one day away, the leaderboard is loaded with big fish caught by well-known fishermen.

A total of nearly 2,700 fishermen registered for the derby this year. Representing all age groups, they’ve lined the shores and been out in boats seeking striped bass, bluefish, false albacore and the elusive Atlantic bonito.

Cochlodinium, the rust-colored algae bloom that has turned up in Cape Pogue and Sengekontacket Ponds, has now invaded Lagoon Pond, Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group director Rick Karney confirmed this week. The algae was found in the west arm of the Lagoon.

Even though a category two hurricane called Ophelia missed us and passed several hundred miles to the east of Martha’s Vineyard last weekend, local rod and reel fisherman have few kind words to say about it. Though far away, turbulent waves from the storm muddied the waters and have nearly shut down the best fishing in this fall’s 66th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Fish are scarce but there is hope it will change this weekend.