Fractional rig

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A fractional rig on a sailing vessel consists of a jib or genoa sail that does not reach all the way to the top of the mast. In this case, the forestay that holds the mast up at the front of the boat is attached to the mast at a lower point and the fore sail (jib or genoa) is usually rigged to this stay. The mast is more forward than on a masthead rig so it has a larger main sail.

Dinghy sailing boats typically use a fractional rig and many racing oriented keel boats like a J22 do also.