Hi - it's Jo here. I went out preparing to drop a buoy on Thursday, but there was no need - the exceptionally irate fishermen hauled, while shouting abuse and hurling flares at us. It's lucky you can hear flares, although they don't give much indication of which direction they are coming from. I just went for the head-down crash position whenever we realised they were coming.

It was all very surreal, and I found myself thinking about really mundane things like 'must cut my finger nails'. I guess it's an automatic reaction to take away any real fear. Still there's nothing like being shot at before 9am to kickstart your day. It was weird - I found watching the footage of the radio call the trawlers were making at the same time to the Esperanza much more threatening. Maybe it just felt more real. Unfortunately it was far too er 'colourful' to write here but I think the F-word was used something like 25 times in a minute.

Basically it was an amazing day - taster of action just makes me want more. I got to drive a jet boat for a very short while. The 'short' being because, despite making Frank collapse in hysterics, my going round and round in circles wasn't doing a very good job of getting us home. Still, much later in the same day I drove the Gray Whale inflatable back to the mothership from Plymouth harbour, after dropping off journos. This was much easier than the Harold Z inflatable, although I still managed to zigzag somewhat.

And there's more - I saw a basking shark today. It was huge. I mean really huge. Still holding out for a glimpse of a humble harbour porpoise. Only really got tomorrow to try but you know you can't have it all. Can't believe that it's over so soon. But all good things and all that... and it has been so unbelievably good.

I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow. Did my last watch last night and got a beautiful sunrise. Other than feeling some serious sleep deprivation things are pretty great. Better run and clean up the galley before lunch. Bye!

Jo, Assistant cook