Sailing Upwind Fast on a Gemini 105MC Catamaran, best sailboat for cruising on SF Bay
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2016
- Gemini 105MC making good speed to windward in light winds; reaching speeds up to 7 knots in only 10-15 knots of wind, between Benicia and Carquinez bridge and briefly beyond into San Pablo Bay. Gemini Catamarans are the most popular cruising cats in the world. The asymmetrical centerboards allow the boat to point high like a monohull and is one of the reasons it is the best all-around catamaran for performance sailing and cruising. The kick up rudders and centerboards allow the boat to sail in shallow water, needing only 18 inches of draft. This is the ultimate catamaran for SF Bay, sailing on one of those rare perfect Zen sailing days.
I'm totally youtube cruising on this Catamaran with you guys rn! I live on the Strait so this is particularly fun to watch. Thanks for the lovely video :)
Glade you enjoyed it, looking forward to Spring season and will try to top this video...with new video equipment and more experience making video.
Great place to Sail. Most never leave the Bay.
I love these boats and will probably end up with one but the major issue with it your view from the cockpit is so restricted. It’s fine for shore line cruising but anything more that is gonna suck.
Hi Mike, I have been aboard sailing many cats and monohulls over last 40 years, own a Moore 24 and J24 as well, I am a racer mostly... The view from the cockpit is excellant and protected, plus the section just aft of it allows you to see over the dodger while standing as you see on camera... I was in charge of swapping the boards during tacks in the video, showing how easy it is to move from inside to out... Few boats are that easy to move around in or so easy to sail, notice how little helm movements to stay on course. My only issue is lack of feedback to helm for racing, but the autopilot loves it.
Fair Winds,
David
How does this model handle chop? Does it have the horrible "banging" problem of waves hitting the superstructure hull?
If you get in the wrong size chop it does pound since the bridge deck is low, but after you have the boat for a while you will learn to minimize this problem by planning your trips with the tide and wind...unless your get a very large and expensive CAT with high bridge deck this should be expected.
Bridgedeck pounds like crazy even at anchor, any well designed cat will not do this no matter the size. Good luck trying to pick the weather on anything longer than a short day sail.
could this model Gemini cross the Pacific?
Yes, this particular model has been sailed across the pacific. But keep in mind a lucky and careful competent sailor could sail an open boat across so that does not mean much.
This boat is designed as a coastal cruiser, which fits the need for the majority of the sailors out there. However, it is probably better than many of boats currently being sailed around the pacific and even the world.
The worst conditions I have seen on the SF Bay were 57 knots and running we hit 23 knots for several minutes. We were able to duck quickly into a safe anchorage and wait out the heavy wind which came up suddenly and was not forecast. The heavy bluewater cruisers were not so lucky and had to deal for an extended period with dangerous situation because they are so slow. Everything has its advantages and each boat is a compromise. Coastal cruiser are best to be quick and run for shelter when things turn bad.
Often the faster boat can outrun the bad weather, but if you weigh down the Gemini with all the cruising stuff modern cruisers demand she is no faster than a heavy cruiser; then you are better off with the heavier bulletproof bluewater boat.
If you can manage to keep the boat light and fast, she will get you anywhere.
Thanks for the input
The last Gemini that made it to Hawaii had to be rebuilt. I own one and would never take it offshore. Going to windward in whitecaps is he'll!
kylo ren