I've read a few books on sailing disasters and mostly got the impression that if this or that had been done lives would have been saved.

At the end of the "Fatal Storm" the feeling is quite opposite. It is amazing they only lost 6 lives in that race.

A good comparison would be to read "Fastnet Force 10" first. Written about the 79 Fastnet race where 15 lives were lost.

I know that the voices in my head aint real,
but they have some pretty good ideas.
There is no such thing as a quick fix and I've never had free lunch!