Racing skills can get you out of trouble or just make your life easier. The only way to gain those skills is to race.
Case in point, I've used speed to avoid serious thunderstorms on many occassions. Getting back home under the resulting light air requires skill. Unless you want to get back at midnight, parched and bug eaten.
I feel pretty confident that I learned most of my sailing skills on the water at home, training. Including long evenings in the dark with no drinking water and no wind
