Does everyone have to race?
No. Every junior sailor can choose whether they want to race or sail recreationally. For some junior sailors, the competition of racing is a lot of fun; for others, this is not the case. Some classes race regularly because it is a way to learn to sail no matter where one finishes. You can compare it to driving a car in an empty parking lot compared to driving on city streets. You can learn some skills in the parking lot, but eventually, you will need to learn the rules of the road and how to turn at particular places. Sailboat racing requires planning a course and maneuvering to and around particular points while taking other boats into account.