Fractional Rigging

[Stepford]

Can someone explain what "fractional rigging" means? I have a book on sailing terms, but I couldn''t find it.

[paulk]

A fractional rig is when the forestay (and therefore the jib) doesn''t go all the way to the top of the mast, but only part way. For example, a 7/8 rig would have the forestay run to about 1/8 of the way down from the top. On masthead rigs, the stay goes to the top, and you get a bigger jib & spinnaker. Lately some rigs use fractionnally rigged jibs, but still fly spinnakers from the top of the mast for better downwind performance.

[Stepford]

Thank you.