August cruising, peace & mayhem

In this episode I enjoy a few days cruising about in fine weather during the Summer holidays. I also have several encounters with annoying boaters- the most significant was a narrowly-avoided major collision with a 'Firebird' high performance catamaran. Fully explained here:- I was out in the bay and heading NE on a close reach and not heading towards any vessels at all. I'd seen the catamaran down wind of me(I often see one of these out in the bay that has a mooring at Porth Navas). A bit later I saw it again on a port tack and heading tight upwind from my port side and on a closing course with Madgic. I was on a starboard tack and so had the right of way. As the distance closed quickly, I reminded them that under col regs they were NOT the stand on vessel but they shouted and gesticulated that I should turn hard to port (160 degrees) and cut across their bows saying they were racing and held their course aiming at my vessel. I was not willing to do such a manoeuvre as it would have meant a certain collision and turned to starboard and into the wind instead. They did too at the last moment, still making contact with my port stern and briefly laying alongside. This is when one of them reached down and tried to rip off my port steering gear with all his might three times!! They were so angry! As we exchanged profanities, our vessels drew apart and they headed off into the distance. Obviously we leisure sailors keep away from the mayhem of racing marks and finish lines as per the advice but I was not aware of any catamaran racing going on before this situation happened. I only saw the racing marks and committee boat when I got much nearer the mouth of the Fal nearer the cruise ship, and there was no mention over the VHF radio. Maybe they were heading upwind for a racing marker up near the Manacles? Either way international collision regs stand and attempting to damage other vessels is definitely not on. They could have easily passed behind. If I had my way they would be keel-hauled.