This is in addition to what you already plan on doing...

I found tacking to be difficult in strong winds. The boat may stall. If it does, it will start going backwards. Push the tiller to luff. The boat will turn into the right direction, even though the jibe will be slow.

To avoid stalling, center your traveller as you turn into the wind, especially if you let it out before. Release the main sheet once the jib gets backwinded.

Also make sure your crew is forward as much as possible. This will help to prevent capsizing over the stern.

Get out on the water before the race to get a feel for the situation. Experiment with how far you dare to bear away on a tack (I used to turn too much into the wind for fear of capsizing).

Once out on the water, it'll feel less scary than on the beach.

Good luck!

H77