There was a time when ocean racing was a test of seamanship by amateur sailors. There was no expectation or prospect of rescue if foolhardy skippers broke their boats. Result was all boats were built like the proverbial outhouse sacrificing speed for seaworthiness using scantlings derived from centuries of hard earned experience with fishing boats and pilot cutters.
Nowadays with the prospect of heli rescue available the standard is sail till it breaks and if it does sound your epirb and home for tea and crumpets by the fireside.
Old sailors like me have ranted against the modern design and the need to run an engine to sail a boat is heresy. but times move on.