A race is about picking your way through a series of challenges. The more challenges there are the more chances there are to gain. The boat that plays it the best wins. Personally I much prefer a race that offers the maximum challenges possible.
I like starting before the larger boats and seeing them sail through.
Bad air can often be more than made up by a push from their wake.
The gold cup races place everyone on the same start line. That can get properly exciting.