The "handicap" is based on the type boat you are sailing, not on your personal ability, like in Golf or in Drag racing. It exists so that a bunch of different type cats can all race together, finish separately, do some math, determine the winner per the math. If instead of a mixed fleet (what we call an 'Open class fleet') all the cats are of the same type, there is no need for the handicap and the first boat across the finish line wins, no math involved.