Fast or slow, hard or soft, 3 knots or 30, there is a common element.
The wind.
How it is used is a personal choice. If you'd like to wet the rail test the limits of man and machine, thats fine. if you'd like to spend the day with the
autopilot engaged, making 1.5 knots, thats fine as well.
A Melges or J/Boat is not a a Valiant, or Hylas. But, I have seen a Valiant 40 singlehanded, spank a J-105 manned by a full crew (matching shirts,shorts and hats notwithstanding).
We have the commonality of the wind. That, my good sir, makes me...
A sailor