Story by Dick Nielsen
Here are some pictures and excerpts from our trip up the Overton Arm to Echo Bay. We were contacted by the owners of a Ranger 22 asking for assistance with their launch. Having never trailered it before. So we took two 26X's," Knot-A-Frayed" and "Forever" and headed out from Las Vegas Bay on Friday the 9th of October at noon. In all fairness, we were looking for an excuse to go up the "Overton Arm".


 Having never been through the" narrows" or up the "Overton Arm", we checked the chart and decided to anchor out somewhere near "Middle Point Island".


 We got there just before sunset. The weather forecast was for increasing winds out of the Southwest. So we anchored out on the Northeast side of the island. As predicted the winds increased! However due to the channeling effect of the hills and cliffs in that area the wind shifted around coming from the East. We thought it was a temporary shift. So when "Forever" started dragging anchor we just moved to a new area on the Northeast side of the Island and reset the anchor. As the wind picked up the boats really started rocking. Jim tried several positions on the centerboard and found that about half way down seemed to do the best. He also slid a weight similar to a mushroom anchor down the anchor line to the chain. Still the rocking was uncomfortable and with the centerboard clunking all night, it was difficult to get any sleep. The following morning we checked on "Knot-A-Frayed" and seen that they had dragged anchor also and were almost up on shore. They got underway and had difficulty recovering their anchor. Being so close to shore they chose to cut the anchor line for fear of being blown into the rocks close by.
 The rest of the trip up to "Echo Bay" was uneventful. We tied up to the courtesy docks over Saturday night and had a better nights sleep. Sunday morning we still had not heard from the crew of the Ranger 22. A careful search of the parking lot turned up the boat on the trailer, but no tow vehicle or crew. We left them a note stating we were going to start our return to our Marina at 11 AM. We left the radios on and no one tried to contact us so at 11 AM we headed home.

Comment by Bruce,
I forgot to explain what happened to us when we disappeared for a while. I was trying to pull a fast one, I thought if I went on the eastern side of that island I might get some good winds and beat you guys but no it wasn't the case... It was truly a good time and look forward to many more.


Reply by Dick I told Jim that you were quite a tactician when you opted to go between the islands. There was a strip of wind over there earlier that we tried for. As it varied I told Jim that with the light air and the shape of the land mass we would do better going for the west shore. The land mass angled sharply to the east so that the wind would have to accelerate on our side to maintain a constant flow. I figured the best wind would be about 25 yards off shore. Once we got behind the island we went into pirate mode and swung around to intercept you as you came between the islands. I put on my stripped shirt and turned my hat around and put my comb in my teeth simulating a pirate with a knife. It was all in good fun! After you got your mainsail baggy you did real well. We never stopped for you after that. Even when you took that long tack to the east. You were gaining on us when we chose to drop sail and head for the narrows. You learn fast!! Good job!

Reply by Jim,
We figured that. That's why we did the Pirate pounce, with our true colors flying ("The Jolly Roger") , by coming out from behind the island and across your bow, "to bear our guns on you and give you a proper broadside salvo while crossing the T.....aye matey". The technique in the Ship of the Line days of Adm. Nelson (no not Nielsen) was called "Crossing the T". You cross in front of your enemy and bear your guns on him arranged along the side of your ship; while the enemy's guns are useless because his tack is represented by the shaft of the "T", while Nelson's crossing tack is the top part of the "T". Just a little nautical trivia (LOL)

Incidentally, I found out my trouble getting underway at Echo Bay was that my rudders were not locked all the way down into steering position. We noticed later the helm was very heavy when tacking and Dick checked the rudders for solid lock into full down position and they were both out. While on lessons learned:
1. When having a choice of anchoring in the lee of an island and a sheltered cove. Take the cove.
2. When anchoring in area that may have a wind shift of 180 degrees, I recommend adding a mushroom anchor to the end of chain. It can be slid down the anchor rode to stop at the anchor link. This ensures the danforth keeps it position for best performance even if the wind shifts. Also the recommended 7:1 or 5:1 anchor scope to depth is not practical in the small coves in Lake Mead where the average depth is 20 feet or more (140 feet or 100 feet of anchor rode?????). The additional anchor will do the trick to maintain the shear angle for the danforth.
3. If about to lose an anchor, tie a fender to the line you have. This will mark it for recovery later. I have a red ball anchor marker that I would use in such a situation. We can SCUBA dive on it, but I have done it and without a marker of some kind it difficult to find lost items on the bottom later. You run the risk of someone else getting your anchor before you get back, but then life is a risk.
4. Before giving a VHF channel to turn to, check to see that you have such a channel (duaaah). Never heard word one from the "Gray Ghost". So much for helping a visitor. Dick did get a message from Cynthia that they would be arriving late Saturday night, but we did not leave till 10:30 AM on Sunday. You would have thought they would try to find us, with two Mac26X at the courtesy dock. Oh well. Lets do it again soon. Jim Maher "Capt. Kimo"