Well, if I had a coin for everytime I had a F18 crew busting my balls for no real reason other then their own mistakes then I'll buy a new Aussie Blade F16 today.

In fact, over the years we (I) have met some F18 crews looking to switch over to another class like the F16's as they have come to dislike "the professionalism" of the F18 class, meaning frivolous protests, Aussie Football style manouvres on the starting line and while rounding marks and European football fan style communication skills. I think we covered one of such examples quite recently on this forum where a F18 cew sails straight into the back of a singlehanded F16, causing damage, shouting abuse and forcing the F16 to capsize on top of a previously overturned boat.

One of the best examples I have in my memory is about a F18 crew trying to overtake me to windward right after the start but only some 5 meters off to my side and rear. Due to the bad air they were eating from my sails they were "magically pulled" to the side of my boat. The adressed me as "That ****ing boat" and implored me to stop pointing so high so they could overtake me. They really couldn't figure out why I (and indeed the rest of the fleet) was pointing higher then they were (bad air) and they really felt that it was their right to demand that I bear away so they could overtake me. Because they were "really f#cking racing while I ... " Well I think you get the picture.

My advice for any such situation if these crews give you heat is to let there be no doubt and give them heaps of abuse back. Apparently that is the way the world works at this time. This crew eventually washed out through the back and that was all I saw of them.

Not my preferred solution but sometimes you have to go with the local "customs".

It is one of the reasons I don't like doing regatta's in NL anymore.

Wouter