LeapFrog Joins ASCC Spriing Series

The ASCC Spring Series of sunday racing kicks off on Sunday 16th September at 11.55am with race No 1. The Leapfrog crew is excited to participate in this forthcoming series, and will be rostering crew on for the whole series. When Captain Scott is traveling as is his want, Apprentice Captain Tony ( OH my god !!! Not more racing !! ) will be ably supported by our wonderful boating companions.

For the first race, Scott will be sailing with Justine (She has reappeared after the big Boat festival and is keen to rejoin our little team), Ben ( our most recent regular crew mate), and Dave our newest crew member.

If you are keen to race this season, get in touch with Tony.

The calender for the races are available at the ASCC homepage.

http://www.ascc.org.au/

Leap Frog returns to Winter Series

Leap Frog has returned and is back on the racing calender

Race 14 Saturday - 11th August 2007

Crew Scott, Tony, Ben and Dave - 25 degrees, blue skies, and winds forecast up to 35knots.

We reefed the sails, and headed out early to show Dave the ropes, and he picked it all up quiet well.... onya Dave! We had a good start, and a good run back up to Rose Bay East YA mark, apart the bloody pole it all went well, we rounded the mark and I think this where we lost the traveller and discovered it on the end of the boom - Shit says Scott, Tony Ben and Dave, Ben and Tony had too physically pull the boom in in 30 knot winds to rescue the traveller, we tacked back down the harbour through the plethora of marks RANSA had laid, and then back to Rose Bay East, Scott calls the bloody pole again, Tony and Ben got it set, than captain decides it should be on the other bloody side, Tony and Ben fight with the pole again, and bugger it breaks so we can't use......much to Tony's delight who hates the bloody pole, which seems ready to throw you off the boat at any second. All in all we had a good race, Ben sailed well, Dave learnt the ropes quickly, Scott helmed like a helmsman and Tony bitched and fought with the bloody pole, swearing never to race again.

6th Place out of 8, one boat who got disqualified, if not only for brown eyeing us and sledging us we may have not called there missed mark.

Race 13 Saturday Saturday 4th August 2007

Leapfrog did not race due to insufficient crew, Scott did some maintenance work instead

Race 12 Saturday 28/7/07

Crew - Scott, Tony, Ben, Jo

There was a fair wind and a westerley course, Leapfrog had a gear failure on the start line, and so were 13 minutes late over the line. This was a good race apart the bloody pole which causes no end of grief to the crew, and Jo got very wet on the foredeck. we had drinks and dolmadies and a couple of fags, it was a good day out....

Leap Frog scored 12th place from 14 starters

Race 11 Saturday 21/7/07

Crew - Scott, Ben, Jo, Greg

I don't know much about this race, due to an impromptue site inspection and wine tasting in the Hunter Valley.

Leapfrog scored 12th place from 12 starters

Leapfrog Crew On Holidays

The Crew

Hi Crew mates and friends

As some of you will know Leapfrog is having a holiday while Captain Scott and Apprentice Captain Tony, Sammy, Chad, Kari, Ant, Kylie and Fee are on holiday in Vietnam.

Leapfrog will be sailing again after the 18th July 2007, when we will recommence our weekly adventures on the frog.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!