The Meaning of "Race" in Ship-building

In Hawkin's *Voyages* ("Hakluyt Society, 1847"), p. 199., he says, "Here is offerred to speak of a point much canvassed amongst carpenters and sea-captains, diversely maintained but yet undetermined, that is, whether the *race*, or loftie built shippe, bee best for the merchant;" and again, p. 219.: "A third and last cause of the losse of sundry of our men, most worthy of note for all captains, owners, and carpenters, was the *race* building of our ship, the onely fault she had," &c. Can any of your correspondents explain what is meant by "race"; the editor of the *Voyages*, Captain C. R. D. B…