In a bigger fleet, nailing the line is deadly unless you're in the lead - everyone else goes a bit farther in order to come in with speed and not get run over. The little bit in extra distance hurts far less than the guys that come in from the port side, cross your perfect layline barely ahead to tack over and shut you down... now you're pinching in bad air just to lay the mark you had just a moment ago.

I know a lot of skippers, even when they're in the lead, that will overstand waiting for the guy in second place to tack. It makes for a fun ride...