There may be some truth to this subject. During Hurricane Charley's 178 mph winds I watched my sailboat rock side to side until it went way over and the mast hit the seawall at the spreader. When it hit, the port side spreader hit the seawall violently and the mast broke right at the spreaders. Then the boat rocked to starboard with the top of the mast acting as a pendulum and come back with more force to port and the mast broke at the goose neck.

I am a retired cop not an engineer, but based on my observation and this article I am inclined to believe the improper connection of the spreader to the mast may have contributed to the mast breaking at the spreader.