Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
Very sadly I have to announce that my former crew and current Star skipper Fritz Girr passed away on Sept.12th way too early at the age of 57.
It was only a knee surgery that forced him to rest and lay down for a while. But in the end a thrombosis caused his sudden death.
1988 we teamed up for the Olympics in Korea. We won a Silver Star in Portoroz (the biggest Star fleet ever) and became Vice World Champion in Chicago 1987. Then Fritzi turned back to his family business as a metal worker. For the rest of his life he remained faithful to the Star Class and skippered his own boat. We stayed to be friends and sailed together once in a while.
He sailed his last Regatta with Berhard Schaefer on his home waters lake Ammersee at the end of July. They were very happy winning the last race !
Fritzi was a strong character and also a hard worker. He created a very positive aura around himself and that you could feel at all events he showed up. His lough was infectious and he made a lot of friends. We all will miss him. The good thing: He left us a smile on our faces when we remember Fritz Girr.
Alexander Hagen
