19 The Great Eastern Mail MARCH 2018 METUNG 18 Tambo Boulevard METUNG 1 Besley Close 7/50 Metung Rd, METUNG, VIC 3904 Ph: (03) 5156 2600 www.lockwoodrealestate.com.au This stunning property is ready to move into. Relaxing and quiet with parklike views enjoy the wildlife and birds that abound on this property. A modern kitchen designed for entertaining, bring the outside in and enjoy the tranquil setting, 2 entertaining areas, also designed to close off one part of the property making a great privacy area when you have guests. Outside is a large workshop with shedding and play area. Nice flat block for easy maintenance. This is a quiet neighbourhood on a no through road close to the water. Nearby you have the village of Metung with all of its boutique shops and cafes, MetungYacht Club and King’s Cove Golf Club. RealEstate Blue Ribbon Properties This month’s top picks Relax and enjoy the parklike surroundings Brand new house & land - ultimate seachange lifestyle Everything you are looking for in a new-build ENERGY EFFICIENT home on 2033sqm block • 3 bedrooms all with WIR • 2 bathrooms one ensuite to master bedroom • Extra large family/dining room • Seperate lounge area & Study room • Extensive verandahs and alfresco areas BUY OFF THE PLAN & SAVE ON STAMP DUTY! Adjacent to the golf club, the property includes two golf club memberships , buggy access Close to Metung with all of its boutique shops and cafes,Yacht Club, Bowls Club and much more.... FOR SALE CONTACT $530,000 Agent (03) 5156 2600 INSPECT Inspections are by appoint. only with the exclusive agent Ian Lockwood at Lockwood Real Estate. FOR SALE CONTACT $595,000 Agent (03) 5156 2600 INSPECT Inspections are by appoint. only with the exclusive agent Ian Lockwood at Lockwood Real Estate. 3 2 6 3 2 2 7/50 Metung Rd, METUNG, VIC 3904 Ph: (03) 5156 2600 www.lockwoodrealestate.com.au THE Dyer family have been involved in the iconic overnight race since 1969. The Marlay Point Overnight Race is a Dyer family ritual, with Glenn Dyer competing in the very first race in 1968 and at least one member of the family has been involved in the iconic race every year since. In February 1972 Glenn launched Banyandah, a Waratah21twinbilgekeelboat he built himself. Two weeks after launching, Banyandah raced in the Marlay Point and Glenn’s eight-year-old son Darryn was on board. These days the race starts at sunset and runs from Marlay Point to Paynesville. In the 70’s, the race was much longer, starting at midnight and running from Marlay Point to Metung. Darryn remembers the adventure of sailing at night with his dad Glenn, uncle Bruce and grandfather Ken as an eight- year-old kid, the first time he was allowed to stay up for the entire night. The crew were still finding their feet on the two-week- old boat. Before the race even started, the calamity had already started. A stiff westerly met them as they left McLennan Straits to cross Lake Wellington. This was the strongest breeze the boat had faced, and the crew were keeping a close eye on how she handled it. “I was all good down in the cabin eating sandwiches when I called out to dad ‘the floor boards are floating down here’.” Darryn remembers. “Pa (my grandfather) came down and found the leak was coming from a cockpit locker drain hole that was drilled to let rain water out of the locker. Due to the heal we had at the time it was letting lake water back into the boat.” “We plugged the hole and began mopping up the bilge with sponges and buckets. After about five minutes, (I was still eating sandwiches and sponging) Pa made a funny noise. I soon worked out there was a bit more than just water going into the bucket. Having his head bent over the bucket was a bit more than Pa could handle in the rough conditions, and with a sandwich still in hand I called out to dad, “he’s throwing up in here.” By the time they got to the start line, they had dried the bilge out and were race-ready. Like most sailors competing in the Marlay Point, Darryn agrees that McLennan Straits seems to be where most of the memories are made. “One year we were in the Straits with no wind. We were overtaking another boat quite smartly when he said ‘how can you be going that fast when there’s no wind’ Someone from our boat spilt the beans ‘we are on anchor mate’. The next thing we heard was splash as their anchor went in.” The Dyers cruised the Gippsland Lakes on Banyandah until 1984, with the Marlay Point Race her only foray into racing each year and often the three generations of Dyers were on the boat. In 1985 Glenn bought a Noelex 25, Chariot of Fire. The Dyers continued their family tradition of racing the Marlay Point together, with Glenn clocking 21 races before he finally missed one and that was to be a race official. Since his first race at age eight, Darryn has been involved for 45 years, as either a competitor or part of the organising committee. He missed a race in the early 80’s to compete in the NACRA 5.2 state championships and two in the early 2000’s due to work commitments, but his wife and kids were there to help out on race day. He has raced on a variety of trailer sailers, including Noelex 25, Farr 740 sport, Inglis 27 and RL24’s, including his own RL Whatever. In 2004 his kids, Rebecca and Mitch became the fourth generation of Dyers to compete in the race. While Darryn has been heavily involved in organising the race for the last 10 years, Mitch has taken to skippering Whatever with some of his mates on board. The Marlay Point Overnight Race held its 50th anniversary race on March 10. Over 120 boats entered and Darryn was right there amongst the fleet, placing a competitive 15th in Division C category. With his family on the water to compete in the milestone race, the Dyer family tradition sailed on with celebrations continuing over the long weekend. Teameffortasfamilysailsto halfcenturymilestone