Anyway, I find the f18 crews generally more aggressive. In my experience there are more skippers there willing to push the rules a little bit to gain any advantage, especially if it is just fouling an irrelevant boat from some other class they are not directly competing against.
I have never found that to be the case when sharing the racecourse with F18s. The F18 skippers I've met all know that getting tied up with other boats (especially ones in other classes) only slows you down. For example, at CatFest some years back, I was sailing hot downwind on starboard tack in good breeze on a converging course with an F18 under spin on port. Had we actually met, he could have tried to cross (and risk a foul), or he could have rounded up to sail above me (risking a capsize in a gust). Instead, he gybed early, put some distance between us, and gybed back again (crossing easily). I think that was a smart and courteous move. He kept a good lookout, knew the rules, foresaw a problem situation, and acted early to avoid it at minimum cost with no fuss.
I do know some sailors who regard other fleet boats as interlopers on their racecourse, but I certainly don't feel that way about the F18 racers. In fact, I once suggested to the best cat sailor I know that we should campaign an F18 together.
Regards,
Eric
