RANSA Winter Race 1 & ASCC Race 5

Sunday 6th May 2007 - ASCC Race 5, Crew Captain Tony, First Mate Scott, Winch Wench Kyles McGyles, Winch Wench Ant, Ballast Bitch Glen, Bowboy Ben. Was a bit more wind for this race and with Captain Tony at the helm it was sure to be an interesting race. The Audi series was on and the harbour was packed with big spinnaker flying yachts, "holy shit" thought Captain Tony, but with the support of a damn good crew we successfully navigated through these fleets. The race was long with the wind between 10 - 15 knots, we had plenty of time to drink a carton of beer, and some bourbon and wine, while consuming Kyles McGyles crew cup cakes, and Bow Boy Bens crew Ham cheese and pickle sandwiches.

Well done crew. Captain Tony is coming out of the sailing closet. We came second accross the line out of 3 starters, but on handicap we may win - we await the results.

Saturday 5th May 2007 - RANSA Race 1, Crew Scott, Tony, Jo and Ben. After a very slow race start (29 minutes to cross the start line) the crew had had lunch and a few drinks before we crossed the start line.

Once we crossed the line the wind gradually picked up and the Frog leapt up the harbour to East Channel, were we turned the mark and our spinnaker went up, Jo and Tony gracefully raised the spinnaker with only minor hiccups and the Scott and Ben controlled the flying kiwi from the cockpit. We had a fun time flying the spinnaker, although lost ground while experimenting and learning.

The crew worked it hard down the harbour, we even raised a sweat. The Frog kept up with the fleet despite light winds and the slow start. Leap Frog scores 12th Place from 16 starters.

Well done Leap Frog crew

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.