It is true the vessel was never designed for twelve hours at open sea, plus the leak at the bow visor meant it was constantly travelling with a hundred tonnes of water swishing around. The speed didn't help, although it was fifteen minutes late leaving Tallinn, Naval Officer Seppälä, said that although the Europa had left Helsinki one hour earlier than the Estonia from Tallinn, Estonia was already ahead when they caught it!
I don't think the JAIC ever investigated why it was bombing along at that speed and when it turned westward, was virtually head on with the waves (southwesterlies), plus it went round in a circle, backtracking on itself and ending up eastwards.