A disabled GPS receiver does not prevent one from sailing onward, but a loss of the mainsail definitely does, especially when you have far to go to correct your dead reckoning position.
None of the failures other than the mast prevented continuing the triup. The rest is whinning, sniffling, and smoke.
It did in Abby's case. Twice. And after being dismasted, she didn't cut the rigging or secure it. And she left foot traps on her deck. There were links to pics on Sailing Anarchy.
Had they waited 8 months she might have made it. She wasn't ready and neither was the yacht.