After a mixed series, which included a win on the day, but also a 30th place out of 66 starters, the team nominated for the Olympic Games, Robert Stanjek/Frithjof Kleen, finished ninth at the European Championships in the Star boat off San Remo.
After second place at the World Championships off Perth at the end of 2011, this was a disappointment for many. "I said this long before the World Championships and I'll say it again: a place in the top ten at the Olympic Games would be a great success for us," says foreskipper Kleen, commenting on the result. He categorises the team's realistic performance potential between sixth and twelfth place. "Anything above that can only happen if we continue to improve and everything is right before Weymouth."
And on the reason for his performance at the European Championships: "There was no lack of speed. It's still very good. There was also no lack of territorial knowledge. We just weren't clever enough tactically and strategically."
European champions were the Poles Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki, world champions in 2008. eleventh place meant that Johannes Polgar and Markus Koy missed out on the top ten.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
