Actually the Canon 100-400 is better than the Nikon 80-400 VR1. The new Nikon 80-400 VRII is better than the old version but it's over priced and feels like plastic.
Yep, you probably saw us but don't know who we are. We always shoot at Fort Mason on Friday's practice. Do you know Master David Yu? Your comment about "it's the person not the camera" is similar to David's comment "Gear don't matter" haha.... problem is, he has top gear. lol...
I think both of them will turn out excellent photos. It is the photographer, not the cameras....:-)). I saw lots Asian photographers during Fleet Week. May be I saw one of you and don't know who you are.