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THE search for a missing Wodonga yachtsman has come to a tragic end, with the 65-year-old’s body found in water off the south east coast of Victoria.
Alan Bullock had left Paynesville for Eden on Saturday but failed to arrive, and his yacht was found about 25 kilometres south-west of Mallacoota on Monday.
Search and rescue crews had been unable to access the yacht because of rough weather conditions and a lack of road access to the site.
A police helicopter crewman yesterday recovered Mr Bullock’s body in water next to the yacht after being lowered to the vessel.
Mr Bullock had spent about 15 months repairing the yacht, which was on land and was unseaworthy when he bought it.
It was on its maiden voyage when he ran into trouble.
Mr Bullock has been remembered as a free spirit who was fulfilling his dream of sailing around Australia.
His wife, Merrilyn, said he had been planning to sail to South West Rocks on the mid north coast of NSW for his father’s 90th birthday next month.
“He was living on the yacht and he was working on it on the Gippsland Lakes,” she said.
“He has lost his life doing something he loved.
“It was a tragedy and it’s sad but he got to live out his dream.
“We were hoping he would make it to South West Rocks and enjoy it for a while, but that didn’t come to fruition.”
Mrs Bullock said despite being “a bit outspoken”, her husband of 39 years was a friend to all and was well-known on the Border.
“I think people knew him for what he was,” she said.
“He was loving and he wasn’t afraid to have a go at anything.
“He was a bit of a character and he was certainly very helpful to a lot of people around town.
“He would drop anything to help someone in strife, especially if it was something to do with boats or vehicles.
“He was a free spirit and it was always his aim to get the yacht and sail away to see parts of Australia.”
Mrs Bullock and the couple’s children, Campbell Bullock and Lauren Cleaver, had held out hope he would be found safe and well after his yacht was discovered on rocks on Monday.
She knew when she saw Wodonga police officers arrive at her home yesterday morning that his body had been found.
“The rescue services have done an absolutely amazing job,” she said.
“The family would really like to extend our gratitude to them.
“They were working in dangerous conditions.
“Hopefully finding him will bring some closure.
“It’s something tangible that we’ve got to say goodbye.”
Mr Bullock, who grew up in Sydney, met his wife after being posted to Albury-Wodonga as a National Serviceman in 1971.
They moved to Port Macquarie in 1990 and then back to Wodonga in 2001.
Mrs Bullock said her husband had been “born and raised on the ocean” and was a keen scuba diver d at Port Macquarie.
He was a life member of the Hume Boat Club and had two grandchildren.