Darryn Dyer’s Story
The Marlay Point Overnight Race has become a bit of a ritual for our family.
My dad Glenn Dyer competed in the very first event on a 38 foot shawl Draft centreboard Ketch from Paynesville Named “Kismet”, while the majority of the fleet were Flying Fifteen’s. The few years to follow he sailed on a Flying Fifteen.
By 1973 dad had built a Waratah 21 twin bilge keel boat, this was just before Trailersailers became popular. She was launched two weeks before the 1973 race and was sailed down from Paynesville on the Saturday then back to Metung on the Saturday night. That was my first race as an 8 year old which started my connection with this great event.
We sailed the MPONR each year on “Banyandah” (Waratah 21) which was the only racing she ever did while we owned her through to 1982. In many of these overnight races we had my Grandfather Ken Dyer onboard as well, so there were often three generations on the boat.
In 1984 Dad bought a Noelex 25 so “Chariot of Fire” became our new ride for many years. Participation in the MPONR continued and Dad clocked up over 21 races before he missed one and from memory that was to be an official in the race.
I missed a race in around 1983 to compete in NACRA 5.2 State Championships, and another two in the early 2000’s due to new work commitments, but this didn’t stop the rest of the family from being there to help out on race day. Whether I’ve raced or not I have been a part of the running of the race since 1988.
For 51 years I have been involved in the race as a competitor, organising committee, Race Officer, rescue boat driver, sailed on ,Waratah 21, Noelex 25, Hartley 16, Farr 740 sport, Inglis 27 (Ka-Boom), and numerous RL24’s including my own RL “Whatever”.
In 2000/2001 my kids, Rebecca and Mitch competed in the race for the first time kicking off the fourth Dyer generation to continue on with this MPONR tradition. I now have a 5 year old granddaughter so looking forward to boasting the 5th generation of competitors one day soon. My Wife Annette has been helping out on race day for over 38 years. Our son Mitch usually comes home from Melbourne especially to help at the club and to sail if he gets a chance.
Since the 40th race I have only sailed once being the 50th, as it’s been all hands on deck at the club to run this event, however Mitch has sailed our boat about five times since 2008.
This is just a short run down on the Dyer family’s involvement in the MPONR over the years, all in all there hasn’t been a MPONR that the Dyer family hasn’t been involved in, in one way or another.
Four generations of Dyers involved in the MPONR.
Ken Dyer, my late Grandfather sailed 6 races
Glenn Dyer dad sailed 28 races
I have (Darryn Dyer) been through on the water 42 times, either racing or officiating.
Mitchell Dyer 8 races
