I had a situation (with our fresh ... damn near new ... I20 this weekend). Because I was the biggest boat in the fleet, I didn't want to get pinned under the F18's so I could be in control of my breeze and get away early. I could see the log jam coming but I was in perfect position to claim the committee boat end. Two boats were crowding in and I could see them eye balling the committee boat end on top of me. Pre-emptively I hailed "there's no room there!" (probably a couple of times). My rudders were missed by about 1/2" inch and the spin pole was over my sterns within my reach as a boat bailed out at the last possible second and tacked away just shy of the committee boat. I couldn't spare the concentration to even see who it was I was hailing.

Later I found out that it was a good friend (as most of the F18 sailors are) and his daughter was skippering for the first time. She had made a remark about how "mean" I was on the water and I felt bad...but I probably did keep them from getting past the point of no return and keeping us from hitting each other - there just wasn't much time for being nice. I did try to explain it later and that there was NOTHING personal about it. I just saw a problem coming and felt like I had to be very clear and very direct.