Well, I'm going to be a little contrary here. I don't think the disasters come as much from being "nice", nor from unfamiliarity with the rules, but more from lack of communication.

For example, last year at Spring Fever, I was sailing downwind on starboard tack, with a Hobie 16 close ahead and slightly to windward. I was headed for the corner, and from they way the guys on the Hobie kept looking back at me, I could tell they wanted to gybe. In this circumstance there was nothing for either of us to gain by sailing on, so I called out "do you want to gybe"?

They answered "Yes", so I told them to go ahead and gybe. They did, and I bore up to clear their transoms. No harm, no foul, and we both benefited.

This year at Spring Fever, I heard many hails of "starboard" and of "hold your course". One skipper even thanked me after I bellowed "starboard" at him 10-15 boatlengths away. At another point, I ducked a boat at speed within a few feet - that would have been a very tense crossing for the other boat had we not already talked.

Letting other boats know your intentions goes a long way to avoiding disasters.

Regards,
Eric