To add a little more, it is often a good tactic in competition. If you take the same tack as your competitor, then you are simply following them in their "dirty

To add a little more, it is often a good tactic in competition. If you take the same tack as your competitor, then you are simply following them in their "dirty wind" and are unlikely to overtake. If you take the opposite tack, then you may well find clean wind, or better wind, and you may also be able to approach them on starboard tack, forcing them to give way. Don't follow your competitor - take the opposite tack.