Every sailboat is at heart a racing boat, and every sailor should do a little racing, simply because it will make you a better sailor. This is why renowned naval architect and yachtsman Uffa Fox, in his classic work According to Uffa, admonished beginners to get out racing as soon as possible, because: “Once you race every fault is pointed out in the way other boats sail away from you, and when you do anything well this too is revealed as you start sailing away from the rest of the fleet.”
Beyond that, sailboat racing is also deeply satisfying, if for no other reason than you absolutely, positively, cannot use your engine, which can be a pain, but means that when you’ve reached the finish you’ve done so through your…