Renovating Leap Frog

Frogs have very special skin! They don't just wear it, they drink and breathe through it. Frogs don't usually swallow water like we do. Instead they absorb most of the moisture they need through their skin. Not only that, but frogs also rely on getting extra oxygen (in addition to what they get from their lungs) from the water by absorbing it through their skin. Because frogs get oxygen through their skin when it's moist, they need to take care of their skin or they might suffocate. Sometimes you'll find frogs that are slimy. This is because the frog skin secretes a mucus that helps keep it moist. Even with the slimy skin, these frogs need to stay near water. Toads on the other hand have tougher skin that doesn't dry out as fast, so they can live farther from water than most frogs. In addition to jumping in water, frogs and toads can get moisture from dew, or they can burrow underground into moist soil. Frogs shed their skin regularly to keep it healthy. Some frogs shed their skin weekly, others as often as every day! This looks pretty yucky...they start to twist and turn and act like they have the hiccups. They do this to stretch themselves out of their old skin! Finally, the frog pulls the skin off over it's head, like a sweater, and then (this is gross) the frog EATS IT!!!! (EEEEEWWW!) http://allaboutfrogs.org/weird/general/skin.html

What do ya call a frog's favorite soda?
Croaka-Cola!

The Frog has had some more TLC she has new teak traveller (pictured). The pushpit has been repaired and resecured, some stornchons repaired. And the main salon totally painted ready for dressings. You can see the fine detail in the closeups.

Included are some photos of the slipping, which due to previous vodafone technicalities became incomprehensible and deemed impossible - but I worked it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RANSA Race 15 16 17 18

RANSA Race 18 - Crew Scott, Tony, Anth, Justine, Jo, Ben, and Greg With the wind up at the 20 knot mark and white caps on the harbour, it was the scene for a fast busy and hard race for the crew. Everyone was playing it hard and everyone was getting wet. Scott was helming like
salmon being persued by John West, Jo and Ben winched like Kylie Minogue performing locomotion, Justine, Greg, Ant and Tony performed fine ballast as if the were circus trapeze acts, along with bar duties for thirsty fish, and Tony and Anth alternating between spotting and calling like $2 shop spruikers with rests on the ballast for a drink.
Well done crew 2nd Place for our last race

RANSA Race 17 - Crew Scott, Tony, Anth, Justine, and Ben - Leap Frog and crew all revved up from such a winning streak, tried there damn hardest to get the frog to move in 5 knots of wind - this became one of the longest races in race history - luckily crewmen Justine brought some snacks and everybody seemed to bring beer - so lets look at this one as a social sail - Leap Frog struggled to the line but did not quiet make it - The start boat packed up and left with the Frog about 200 metres fromthe line LeapFrog scores DNF

RANSA Race 16 - Crew Scott, Tony, Ant, Sid and Ben LeapFrog and crew have scored another 1ST Place. The wind was up around 20knots and the Frog was in her element, she was leaning over and dipping her toerails into the harbour like a damsal on vacation in the Carribean, Captain Scott helmed like a tiny mackarel being hunted by a sea bass, Tony spotted and called a many a starboard like a eagle with a keen eye for a juicy grub, Ant and Sid winched like mini tornados, and Ben performed tight rope performance like ballast. The race was intense and all hand were on deck and there were a many a fine tuned call 'Go Down, Go Down" cried Tony 'We,re going hit, were going to hit' cried Tony - there was many a close call. The clubhouse beckoned after such an intense race and all crew did there best to support the RANSA bar, including Frank and his Dad Hans from Germany joing us for our victorious drinks.

RANSA race 15 was the final pointscoring race for the summer twilights, and although the frog missed the race as Captain Scott was in Broome and First Mate Tony was on his broom in Mona Vale. So no racing news this

week crew

RANSA Race 14

RANSA Race 14 February 23 - Crew Scott, Jo, Anthony, Justine, and Sid - From all reports the crew sailed like troopers and handled the frog well with Jo keeping watch and hankering for a starboard call on the bow and Justine and Ant controlling the cockpit winches with minute precision while Sid performed ballast like a seal on an artic iceberg and Captain Scott helmed like a fish in pursuit of a tasty prawn.

Final result - 4th place - well done team

Frogs are one of the best leapers on the planet! Did you know that frogs can launch themselves over 20 times their own length using those big strong legs of theirs? That would be like if you could jump 100 feet!
The average flea can jump up to 150 times its own length.A kangaroo can leap about 4 1/2 times it's length. Elephants can't jump at all!
As far as I know, the longest frog jump on record measured 33 feet 5.5 inches. It was made by a frog named Santjie at a frog derby held in South Africa.

Sunday sailing saw a sunny day and fine conditions for an spritley afternoon sail, and a good introduction to the pleasure/ stress/ strategy involved.

With a keen crew of Scarlet, Sophie, Sue, Mitchel, Steve, Scott and Tony. Everyone sailed extremely well, and everyone learning a few new

sailing tricks

RANSA racing on the Frog continued

RANSA Race 13 16/2/07 - Crew Scott, Tony, Justine, Sophia and Syd. With Sophia ans Syd first time new crew. We thought we would take it easy and improve our handicap - we left the mooring early and did some practice tacks and runs, with sophia learning winch wenching under Justines instruction proved a winning combination, Tony taught Syd how to be ballast and use the Vang, and then Tony took position spotting on the bow, while Captain Scott helmed like a dolphin in pursuit of a tasty fish. We had a a few drinks and some lovely mini quiches catered by the lovely Justine who sponsors the Vinyl Lounge. There are unfortunatley no official snaps of this momentous race as the forecast was for storms and the old camera is not waterproof.
LeapFrog scores 1st Place
sail #5939 name LEAP FROG finish time19:22:16 handicap0.6417 place 1st

The Admirals Cup - RANSA Regatta

LeapFrog will be entering the annual RANSA Regatta - The Admirals Cup

Calling all Crew..................................Calling all Crew

Sunday 26 February will once again see the Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association (RANSA) at Rushcutters Bay hosting its annual Regatta to raise money for the Sir David Martin Foundation (SDMF). The Foundation, named after the former Governor of NSW, supports youth programs that assist marginalised young people in our community in making the steps towards a positive future. All proceeds from the Regatta will go towards the Foundation.Entrants will compete on behalf of their club the Admiral’s Trophy. There will also be both divisional and additional lucky-draw prizes back at the clubhouse for competitors and crew.

The Admiral’s Trophy was first presented in 1987 and is won by the Sydney yacht club that performs best overall in the eight competing divisions; the best five results are counted. All Sydney yacht clubs are invited to compete.

In 1987 the Admiral’s Trophy was won by Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club. In fact this was the start of a winning streak that saw RPEYC’s hold on the trophy remain unbroken until 1999 – it was won that year by Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. RANSA regained the trophy in 2004 and has held it since then.

Racing will commence on Sydney Harbour at 11am with eight mixed divisions including two non-spinnaker divisions catering for a range of craft from big boats to small keel boats. The committee vessel for the regatta will be HMAS Yarra – a Royal Australian Navy minesweeper.

RANSA is keen to top last year’s entries of 98 yachts in its bid to raise more money for the SDMF and is being supported by the Royal Australian Navy, Dacha Holidays and Hood Sailmakers.

This year there will be a draw back at the club for a one day sea ride on HMAS MANOORA for up to 10 people - which will involve a transit outside Sydney Heads - to get to see what the Royal Australian Navy's largest warships get up to at sea. A three day holiday in a luxury apartment at Dutchies Beach, Port Stephens will also be up for grabs. Divisional prizes are being generously provided by Hood Sails.

Other post race activities include entertainment by the “Red Hot Pappas” jazz band, special regatta refreshments, and prize giving. There’s a full day of activities a special opportunity for competitors and RANSA to help support youth in our community.

Summer Twilights on the new Stone Frog

How deep is Frog Lake?.......................................Knee deep, knee deep,



RANSA Race Febuary 9th 2007 - Crew Scott, Tony, Ant, Jo, Justine, and Sam. Fairly light conditions promised for some champagne sailing. The fine weather saw a huge fleet and the start line was non other than chaotic, with Megisto c0ming accross port on the startline causing at least one collision. The Frog went up, went down, eased off, pulled on and navigated successfully thhrough this chaos to get a good start. From here we broad reached up the harbour to our mark, and pretty much the same on the return. Again Jo & Justine held the cockpit and winched and pulled and carried on, Tony performed great ballast along with Sam, while Ant called some mighty fine shots on the bow. Kyles and Fee Fee joined us for a drink at RANSA to hear the race results, many thanks to Fee Fee for her fine but controversial rissole sandwiches. Janet belowed the results out to the crowd with every grace of a fine race caller - three cheers for Janet she is the gem of the club - Leap Frog scores 5th place - current handicap .6402 - if anyone knows what this means or how it is calculated please let us know.

February 2, 2007 - RANSA Race - The crew was pumping with Scott, Tony, Ant, Justine and Jo - and the form was looking good. A few quick vodkas, bourbouns, beers and mineral waters gave the crew the charge they needed to push the Frog to her limits. Tony worked well as ballast, with Ant doing some good spotting, calling, and intermittent ballast, justine and jo held the cockpit floor and winched like wenches that had winched before, and of course Captain Scott steered the course like a man possesssed. Leap Frog 1st place winner division 3



A social sail in 40-50knots What was to be a tame sunday afternoon luncheon sail, met with 40-50knots and a handerkerchief headsail, gave the crew a thrill that the jetboats can only dream of. Leapfrog dipped her toerails in to the harbour and plowed through the whitecaps that resembled small tsunamis

The second race for Leapfrog

26th February 2007 - The tide was very low, a king of a low. Leapfrog on her way to the RANSA safety check got bogged int he mud at Elizabeth Bay, all we could do was drink beer and wait for the tide to rise - and help Chris on Kalula who had his boat on the slip

Leap Frog after the makeover
Leap Frog has had some major works performed and is looking like a classic lady of the harbour.

The vibrant yellow is now a heritage stone like beige, with a stiking blue bottom which matches the sail trim, trimed with a white waterine. The coachhouse although still in need of another coat will remain white, yet the decks are yet to go a pale grey with non slip surfaces.
The interiors are ready for a final topcoat, and then the fittings and dressings will begin. The head is now an operating port a potty (you use - you empty type system)

12/1/2007 Leap Frog rejoins the RANSA twilights

Crew Scott, Tony, Anthony, Jo, and Frank - forecast 13-18knots and evening thunderstorms. Actually it was more like 30 - 35knots with whitecaps the size of small ships.

The crew worked well and we reefed early and reefed often, but for our first race it was proving to be a challenge . A little more practice was required to get back to the top of the point score.

After some yelling and discussion, a few twist-tops throw downs, and cans of bourbons, and even a pringle or two. A call was made (which was supported unamiously) that we should go back to the bar and have a drink or two and not start the season with this race. .

RANSA twilights are every Friday night, leaving Elizabeth Bay Marina no later than 4.45pm so Kev can knock off on time. Contact the Sailing Leap Frog offices to secure your crewing position now. (add comments in the blog to register now)

ASCC Treasure hunt is on Saturday 27th January 2007 9am at Elizabeth Bay Marina, with the first race for the summer series on the Sunday 28th January 2007 11am Elizabeth Bay Marina, please contact the Sailing Leap Frog offices to register your crew positions now. (add comments onto the blog to register now)