First, you will learn sailing, much faster by racing, even if it is in a mixed fleet. If you are worried about getting lapped, bring beer.
Second,
If events like those described here are at all regular,
In my experience they are rare. Most of the time, a simple "Protest" on the water takes care of it. “Protest! You tacked to close and I had to head up to avoid you, you owe a circle,” for example takes care of it. I've been to the protest room once or twice, I only remember once vividly. (The protest room: the outside bar instead of the inside bar, The process as I know it: Commodore picks three senior sailors to be Protest Committee, announces protest hearing to take place if no physical damage was done, each side states their case, nothing written down that I know of, Protest Committee asked questions to clarify situation, they get answers, and rules that are applicable are discussed openly.) Everyone learns from protesting, and being protested. If you are afraid of learning or making mistakes, you need to look inside and at the community that you sail with.
I have never been to another club where the environment is as open to making mistakes and getting help like this one. The rules are complicated and hard to learn. Each protest hearing helps everyone learn. Perhaps this is the tipping point of why WRCRA continues to grow cat sailors, instead of just steal them from other classes. And, I believe in stealing sailors from other classes.
One less T20 sailor and one more N20 sailor for example . . . <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Hmmm . . . where are those local F16 and F18 sailors?
