It was the final Fun Race, but at the prize ceremony the commodore said that the club may restructure it in later years. It was once a thriving event but faded away in recent years, possibly due to official interference (Aus gov loves it's rules!) that stopped a lot of the high jinks between boats, plus kids were barred from the after-race party, due to alcohol being served, wet t-shirt competitions etc. The tradition of naked figureheads, and water fights between the boats was also frowned upon. Just 10 years ago there were 200-300 boats in the race and up to 3000 people at the party afterwards, but this year's fleet of 40 was the biggest in several years. The first year of the race, 1977, was also the first time I sailed into Airlie, delivering a boat built in the yard I was working in, though the cruising yachts did not participate in that first race, just a couple of luggers who were chartering here.
I carry my dinghy on the cabin top aft of the mast when making open sea passages, such as my 500 mile passage from Brisbane to Sydney in 2014. I think it would be ok on the davits in a moderate blow but would not like it to be out there in a serious gale.
I wasn't seriously worried about the mast bend as I am confident that my mast is more than strong enough for this sort of thing, though I wouldn't drive the boat like that on passage. I like Roger Taylor's approach of sailing the boat softly on long hauls, taking more time but breaking nothing. Pitching into a left over sea, with a dying wind and the yard slamming around, concerns me more, and I have seen the top of the mast twitch like a fishing rod under those circumstances. The solution is simple though - I drop a couple of panels and bring the yard down a bit. Then it is as solid as a rock once again and the only risk is to the skipper's temper!
Yes, I am having a good time. I'll be sailing south in October. I still have days when I am ill, but I am damned if I will sit around and wait for the undertaker!