But those who have sailed against the team still think otherwise.
By the end of next week, they may be ready to sail the boats against each other.
"Sometimes a party must sail against the wind," he said.
"I've been sailing against some other guys that know how to make these boats go fast," she said.
The wind had to change before his fighting ships could sail against the Spanish.
Then you would have to sail against it in the finals.
And he was defeated because he sailed against the wind.
The new program begins with 144 races over three weeks in which the nine competing teams sail against each other twice.
"We'll sail against anyone because we feel it's the only way we'll improve."
Students came to master the use of a compass and learn how to sail against a headwind.