We had a great sail last night in 15 - 20 kts of SE Tradewind. Our 24 hour run to noon today was 175 miles - a new record. As a result of a terrific 24 hours we look like getting into Fatu Hiva a day ahead of schedule on April 13th, which would be great for us, as many significant things have happened around the number 13. We were married on the 13th February 1971.

The wind has died down a little now to about 8 - 10kts but we are still making 5 - 6 knots through the water on a tight reach with 350 miles to go.

We made contact this afternoon via the VHF with a Chinese tuna fishing boat. We told him we'd been trolling for 2,500 miles and had only caught two fish. "=C4re you doing any better?" I asked. He explained they were catching tuna for the Japanese and asked if we'd like some. "=CFs the Pope Catholic?" I asked (I didn't really because I didn't think he'd understand my wry sense of humour). Anyway, he said to give him 20 minutes to do whatever he had to do (pull his fishing lines in, I assume) and he'd be right over. Easier said than done when we're belting along at 8 kts but I thought I'd give it a go. We furled the headsail and hove to until he got his act together and turned around and he came up behind us and then alongside us, complete with his 12 crew and two dogs all hanging over the side. We were in a 8 foot sea and here is this rusty monster with a huge bulbous bow and 3 years growth of seaweed on the bottom thumping alongside us about 6 feet away. I thought they'd throw across a fish in a plastic bag and briefed Debbie accordingly. He came back on the radio saying "Put some fenders out" O my goodness we thought, we'll just wait and see. We put our boat card in a zip lock plastic bag, weighed down with an old shackle and some lollies to throw to them, but he really did want to raft up alongside. His crew through me two lines in order to secure himself alongside."No ploblem, no ploblem" he kept saying over the radio.

I think he wanted to come over for a cup of tea and a biscuit.

I didn't really like the look of this. Our freeboard is about 5 ft and he was about 15 ft to start with. I suggested this was not a good idea - especially at that moment when the stern line he threw me snapped. I suggested he might like to transfer the fish in a plastic bag tied to one of the lines he had thrown me and he did so. A plastic bag with about 20kg of frozen tuna, all cut and ready for Sashimi! He then pulled away from us and continued on his course. His English wasn't terrific but he asked us as he was sailing off over the horizon to come to meet him at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

The people you meet...... and we didn't even get the chance to throw him our bag of lollies.