Marlay Point Overnight Race open for business
by Marlay Point Overnight Race 23 Feb 2020 22:41 PST
Marlay Point Overnight Race © Marlay Point Overnight Rac
The Marlay Point Overnight Race will celebrate its 52nd race on 7 March and entries are rolling in.
With over 230 boats entered in the 50th, organisers are confident this year will offer another great year of racing.
With Fires and Floods impacting East Gipplsand, the MPONR committee is confident that the Trailable yachts and multi-hulls entries will continue to be high. Just a little later than normal. Marlay Point is still a feature in sailor's bucket lists.
John Shepard raced his first Overnighter in 1978 and has been involved in organising the event for 18 years. He well remembers the early years, when over 500 boats entered every year for almost a decade.
"The atmosphere at the start with a large fleet is very exciting and tense as crews find the best way to get clear of their competitors, but once things settle down there is time to appreciate the beauty and peace of sailing through the night and into the new dawn." he said, adding that McLennan Straits requires great concentration when navigating the narrow channel surrounded by such a large fleet.
The idea of the Marlay Point Overnight Race came about in 1968. It was decided by the Lake Wellington Yacht Club that an overnight race for trailable yachts would provide a great challenge to sailors. It would be a marathon event for the smaller boats, with racing taking place from Marlay Sunday the festival atmosphere will continue in Paynesville as the boats make there way to the finish line, with a presentation night at 6pm.
To enter the race or for more information about the 50th celebrations, please visit www.mponr.com.au.