Volvo Ocean Race: "I really want this job"

One of the most important events in Robert Stanjek's sailing career begins next Sunday. The Berlin Olympic sixth in the Star boat will fly to Lanzarote, where he will join the Dutch team Brunel. He has 42 days to convince skipper Bouwe Bekking of his abilities. In a long-distance duel with Pieter-Jan Postma, the Dutch Olympic silver medallist in the Finn dinghy, Stanjek is fighting for the last free place in the yellow and black Ocean Race team. Postma, who is one year younger, was the first of the two candidates to be tested by the team in recent weeks. Now it is Stanjek's turn. Before Lanzarota and on the planned medium distances to Great Britain and Holland, he will show what he is capable of and whether he is the right choice for the race around the globe. Before the start of his big test, Stanjek spoke to YACHT online about his preparations, his hopes and his goals.

"Everything will be new for the new guy," said Robert Stanjek before his departure, "but a team of professionals is waiting for me and I think that I will quickly find my way into the team." Pieter-Jan Postma leaves Team Brunel on the day Stanjek arrives at the training camp on Lanzarote. From Sunday, Stanjek will be the new number eight on board. "They will run me through a lot of positions, put me through my paces. The first few days will certainly be exhausting because there's so much to take in. But I think I'll be able to get to grips with the demands relatively quickly." At least two 200-nautical-mile long-distance races are planned for testing and training purposes.

"I've got myself in shape over the past few weeks and prepared as well as possible," says Stanjek, "I completed my Royal Yacht Master, my international radio licence, Isaf safety training and a first aid course. I continued to work on my fitness with cross-country skiing during altitude training and sailed a few regattas. I think I did what I could in the time leading up to my deployment. Now I will naturally give it my all. I really want this job!"

From 18 May, Stanjek will be free for his third Nord Stream Race - regardless of the outcome of the Ocean Race decision. Bekking had explicitly given Stanjek the green light for the long haul from St. Petersburg via Helsinki to Warnemünde alongside skipper Tim Kröger and the "Spirit of Europe" crew, because it is good "to sail with other crews" and to train.

The 32-year-old Stanjek finds it difficult to assess his chances in the duel with Postma. "If you look at the basis for the decision, there are sporting and human criteria. Plus perhaps a vote from the sponsor. I can only influence two of these areas. I believe that I am a good team player. I've proven that in close Olympic 'marriages', among other things. And I have recently gained some ocean experience. Bouwe will be aware that he still needs to train me in some areas, but that I have a lot to offer in others. My Olympic experience and my physicality will be worth a lot."

Stanjek wants to realise a long-cherished dream by taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race. "The way my dream and my job come together in the Volvo Ocean Race is tough and brilliant at the same time. It's world-class racing at its best. As a team race, the Volvo Ocean Race is the most highly rated of all ocean challenges."

He's not in for a walk in the park: "It's going to be a tough lap around the world. Over almost 77,000 kilometres. That's almost twice round and won't always be a walk in the park mentally either. But that's exactly what appeals to me. I like looking for challenges like that. It's one dream after another: I could tackle the circumnavigation and at the same time experience a series of high-quality sailing days where I will learn an incredible amount."