Contessa 35

The Contessa 35 is a 10.8-meter masthead sloop designed by Doug Peterson as an IOR (MKIII) 1-ton racer, built by Jeremy Rogers Ltd. from 1974 to the present. The prototype, *Gumboots*, won the 1974 International One Ton Cup. With a fin keel and spade rudder, the boat displaces 6123 kg.1:24 Erik Aanderaa sails his 46-year-old Contessa 35, *Tessie*, as a purpose-built North Atlantic offshore passage-maker, noting its 3.2-ton lead keel, which is 50 percent of its total displacement, contributes to its ocean-worthiness.0:49 Aboard *Tessie*, a Volvo Penta D240 43-hp diesel engine with a Gori folding propeller provides propulsion, supported by two alternators and 343 liters of fuel capacity for a 550-nautical-mile motoring range.4:34 The sail wardrobe includes a mainsail, genoa, inner cutter jib, storm sail, and gennaker, with a four-reef mainsail system for winds up to 40-plus knots.7:29 Aanderaa relies on a Raymarine chartplotter, AIS, PredictWind Data Hub, and an Iridium Go for navigation and weather routing.15:48 He has sailed *Tessie* through gale conditions with winds peaking at 70.7 knots off Shetland and managed diesel leaks mid-passage in the North Sea.20:09 The boat features multiple steering redundancies, including a Hydrovane wind-vane self-steerer, which he uses for long-distance passages and in fresh downwind conditions.13:47