About me

Im Erik Martin Aanderaa. Ive been sailing since 1993 starting at age 11. I instantly fell completely in love with it.

I learned early on that sailing singlehanded gave me the freedom I needed to be able to sail wherever, whenever- without beeing depended on a crew. So with the years I got better on overcoming the challenges solo sailing creates as you come further and further offshore. At age 20 I started as a first officer on different offshore supply ships around the North Sea and got to learn the oceans well, and it really triggered my passion for ocean sailing- spending all the hours on the bridge looking at the sea. At age 24 I got a hold of my dreamboat, a Contessa 35 from 1976.

This was the start of an incredible, long lasting adventure.  In 2007 I sailed her alone all the way from Norway to Spain on a somewhat spontaneous trip. I experienced so many incredible moments along the way, but beeing alone I couldnt share those moments with any one, wich was kind of sad. So some years later, in 2016, cameras, drones and editing software came affordable and I desided to try to document my sailing trips online. And before I knew it my “No Bullshit Just Sailing” Youtube channel was a fact, and has become what you know it today.

My boat

My boat “Tessie” is a Contessa 76, built 1976 in Lymington, Southampton. Shes built by the well known Geremy Rogers.
She is a sharp, fast and incredibly steady boat to sail in all conditions. I bought her in 2004 and I have used the last 17 years to slowly equip her for offshore singlehanded sailing for heavy conditions, with the aim to get safely across the big oceans.

A Hydrovane selfsteering is fitted together with a full Raymarine navigation outfit with a strong autopilot. Infrared cameras in mast top and cockpit to be monitored from bunk inside cabin while resting.
Solarpanels, twin engine alternators and a hydrogenerator to charge 3x 100 Ah of Lithium batteries.

Rolly Tasker Sails:

Fullbattened mainsail with three reefs.
Heavy wind hank on jib on innerstay with one reef.
Genoa on a furler.
A5 Gennaker on a furler.

Lengt 10.85 m
Beam: 3,50 m
Height: 16,5 m
Draft: 2,0 m
Weight: 6363 kg
Keel: 3000 kg of led