While I still agree that practice outside of racing is certainly a bonus. Tacking 50+ times up a creek while trying to overtake a boat just ahead is great practice - and you know pretty quickly if that tack was faster than the last (I'm talking about the Key Largo Steeplechase).

Now that you mention it, my tacking has gotten a little inconsistant and I had a couple of times at Tradewinds where it took a few seconds to get the boat going again (probably sheeted in too quickly). It probably is time for some drills.