GEMINI 105Mc
PRICE £75,000-£120,000 YEAR 2001-2012
The Gemini 105 was conceived by Englishman, Tony Smith, who first produced the successful Telstar trimaran in the 1970s. In 1980 he moved to the USA and launched the Gemini range of catamarans. Over a thousand 105s have since been sold, including the updated 105M and 105Mc models introduced after the company built a brand new, high-tech factory and entirely new hull moulds to make it lighter, faster and stronger.
The hull is solid GRP, handlaminated using polyester resin. The decks and cockpit sole are a Grp/balsa sandwich and it has a moulded interior lining that provides a superior finish and improved headroom over its predecessor.
Compared to modern cats she is narrow, allowing her to occupy a standard marina berth and be hauled ashore by a Travelhoist. Her slim, low-drag, flat-bottomed hulls might have increased leeway if it wasn’t for the kick-up centreboards. With boards and rudders raised she draws a mere 0.45m (18in) and can be beached easily and safely.
The bridgedeck saloon is level with the cockpit and features a large U-shaped seating area with panoramic views. The chart table, beneath which is a fridge, is visible from the helm. The galley is comprehensive and boasts a plethora of drawers, lockers and worktop.
Both hulls have generous doubles aft with standing headroom, hanging lockers and drawers, two opening ports and one fixed. Underneath the bunks are where the water tanks and calorifier are sited. The centre of the port hull has
1.88m (6ft 2in) headroom and is given over to navigation. There’s a long chart table with stowage underneath, into which the centreboard retracts when cranked up with a winch handle. Forward is a large head with separate shower and a hatch.
The master double cabin encompasses the entire forward section of the bridge deck and is high enough to enable you to see out from the berth. The forward part of the starboard hull makes a handily spacious dressing area.
On deck, her retroussé transoms have wide, flat steps and sturdy handrails. The cockpit is spacious with comfortable all-round seating for 8-10. Beneath the rear seat is a 27hp Westerbeke diesel connected to a hydraulically steered drive leg.
The wheel helm has a detachable seat, from which the view forward is good — either through the windows or along the side decks. The rigid bimini has hatches to view the mainsail and there are attachments for an all-round cockpit tent.
The side decks are usefully wide with excellent handholds and effective non-slip and the foredeck is made from solid GRP rather than a trampoline.
The tall fractional rig sports a deckstepped, twin spreader mast supported by continuous cap stays, aft lowers, a baby stay and an adjustable split backstay.
The deep roached, fully battened mainsail sheets across the aft cockpit coaming, while the genoa sheets lead to self-tailing coachroof winches. An optional gennaker attaches to a track spanning the two hulls, allowing the tack position to be adjusted.
Asymmetrical centreboards are designed to help lift the Gemini to windward when beating, enabling her to point up with little more leeway than a monohull.