This past weekend I competed in Charleston Race Week in the J/80 with partner, Will Welles, Stu Johnstone and Julia Langford…all members of Team Scimitar.  We finished 2nd overall.  Over some beers this summer we will explain how we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. But the team did very well, with Will and I getting some good MOJO together for our starts, Stu called some fantastic races, and Julia worked the bow like a pro.
 
Callie and I will be moving on June 1, into our new home in Marblehead.  We are relocating the Brauer clan to 8 Davis Road on Peaches Point.  The best part of the move is that we are right on the water with an association dock in front of  the house. This should make for some fun post race festivities.  Laurie Willard will be placing a mooring in front of the house for Scimitar.  We will have the small inflatable at the dock and the Rib on a mooring.  No need to hassle with the EYC launch.
 
The new schedule is centered on racing in Marblehead. We are planning on two MRA races and the Hospice Regatta in June and one MRA race in July..  The NA’s team will be on board for Marblehead Race week and the NA’s.  There is plenty of opportunity to get on the water so let us know your availability to race in the MRA, Hospice and Wednesday nights.  Sailing on Wed nights will be less formal given ever changing travel schedules; so when Stew and/or I are in town we will let you know and see who is available to jump aboard.
 
We are planning on several practice and tuning days during June and July (and maybe late May).  I am working on dates with Bill Shore and Will Welles.  We may also have a guest coach to be named later.  One idea is to get out early on a Wednesday before the racing, set up and get some practice in with another boat, then race, come back to the house for a debrief.  Also we would like to get out the day before MHead race week and the day before the NA’s.  More to come on this aspect of the program.  I think Bill and Will are usually sailing in Newport on Wednesday nights to time with them will be scheduled later.
 
Last year we made a number of upgrades to Scimitar to get her back into Bristol condition and ready to race including new sails, new running rigging, new chart plotter, vhf radio, self steering, and a complete detail of the cabin.  So what is left to do?  We asked Karl Anderson to take a look at our keel and rudder and decided that both foils could be improved.  The boat is presently at Karl’s shop down on the Cape having this work completed.  She should be back in Marblehead by the first week of May.  Prior to launching we will get her re-weighed as required by class rules.  The old weight certificate has us a little heavy, however, there are class approved ways to bring her back to fighting weight.
 
We want you to hear this from us and not from the dock talk circuit, Scimitar is officially for sale. She is being offered by Rich Hill at Hill & Lowden and will be available immediately following the North American Championship.  Our goal from the time we purchased her was to put together a top notch program for the 2011 North American Championship.  Once the 2011 season is over Stew and I will be joining forces with Bob and Stuart Johnstone on a new J/111, #37, Fleetwing.  This will be a great opportunity to combine three good teams onto one boat.  Bob and I have been partners in a J/100 and that was a very successful program.  Stew and Stu J were roommates at Tufts and Stu J has been an integral part of both Scimitar and Rascal’s success.  Stew, Stu and I all went to Tufts together.  You will all be hearing more about Fleetwing in the coming months and we look forward to having you join us on the new boat.
 
The web site has been renewed and will be updated shortly by Leighton and me so take a visit when you have a chance.
 
Stew and I look forward to the coming season and hope you will be able to join us.

Regards,
Henry and Stew