"Two secondary schools have a boat building project as part of their curriculum. Newcomb Secondary and Lara Secondary College are building boats called 'herons' - those boats will be on display."
"We have a 'quick and dirty' boat building competition. They're all community-based groups like the Coast Guard and the Fire Authority - they get about half a dozen sheets of plywood, some sticks of timber, glue and nails and they get two hours to design and build a boat - and the next day they have to sail around the bay. In the past, it's been fantastic - no one sank."
"The coast guard guys were the winners last time so they'll be out to defend their title."
Mr Dickson said the Wooden Boat Festival had "quite a humble beginning" with a "total of 30 boats and we didn't do anything outside of the club."
"We're expecting 130 boats this year," Mr Dickson said.
The Festival extends down to Eastern Beach with activities all along the beach.
For more information go to www.woodenboatfestivalgeelong.com.au