I watched a funny exchange between two top-level skippers at the F18s last week. One boat (W) was parked behind the committee boat when another boat (L) was creeping toward the line on a lay for the stern of the committee boat. Overlap ensued and after a eight or ten seconds, the conversation began.

L - "Keep it up, there."

W - "What?"

L - "Keep it up."

W - "I have nowhere to go."

L, laughing - "You can go straight into the committee boat for all I care, you've got no room."

W - "Well that would be just great fun for everyone, wouldn't it!"

L - "You can always bail, but you will keep it up."

W - "I see how you are! That's how they do it where you're from, huh!"

Starting horn

It was all I could do to keep my mind on my job - the exchange was hysterical and clearly the practiced banter between two front-of-the-fleet guys, one of whom had the clear and undisputed upper hand and the other of whom laughingly knew he was over a barrel. *Noodle*, that was funny.