Volvo Ocean Race: Stanjek fights, Bekking smiles

The Berlin Olympic sixth-placed Robert Stanjek is fighting for the chance of a lifetime during training off Lanzarote: the former star boat sailor is competing for the last free crew place in the Dutch team for the Volvo Ocean Race. His direct rival is the Dutchman Pieter-Jan Postma. The Olympic silver medallist in the Finn dinghy had trained with the team before Stanjek. Now it is up to the German to prove his skills in co-operation with the international crew.

After the first two weeks in the training camp off Lanzarote, Stanjek's interim assessment over Easter was positive. "I'm really enjoying facing all the new challenges," Stanjek told YACHT online. "I'm learning an incredible amount. I used a short lull to write myself a kind of playbook after the first few days. Work with the team is going well." The crew is currently on a three-day offshore trip across the Atlantic.

The team management around skipper Bouwe Bekking is still keeping quiet about the latest personnel decisions. The candidates are not only tested and scrutinised in action, but also in intensive interviews. Recent photos from the training area in the Atlantic show Robert Stanjek in action in various positions. And they show Stanjek with his skipper, who makes a very relaxed impression. It will be decided in May whether Stanjek or Postma will join Team Brunel in the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race.

Update (4.10pm) -What skipper Bouwe Bekking tells YACHT online about Robert Stanjek:

"Robert Stanjek is obviously an excellent sailor. He has left his mark in the Olympic classes. When you are fast in a technical boat like the Star, you have a good understanding of trimming and other ways to make a boat fast. I had good feedback from his coach Alan Smith. That was the reason to invite him. He doesn't have a lot of experience in sailing big boats. You could see that. But he learns quickly. He works well with the other guys on the inside. Steering these boats is also something new for him. Double rudders are something completely different. And he hasn't sailed at night that often yet. But as I've already said, he's learning quickly and the next month will be crucial for him and the team in many ways."