What is the difference between the racing and cruising handicaps?
The difference is 12 seconds for a masthead rig, 6 seconds for a true fractional rig, and 9 seconds for 15/16ths rigs and fractional rigs with masthead spinnakers. Since catboats have no foretriangle, there is no adjustement with these rigs. This difference is not intended to fully account for the speed difference between a spinnaker and a non-spinnaker boat. Another 12 seconds should be added to get a rough approximation of the perceived speed difference in some undefined “average” condition. No free flying sails are allowed with the cruising handicap.
