but reality is created in the editing room. If you roll enough film you'll get a library that can be cut and pasted to tell any story you want. Its a form of visual cherry-picking. But that's art, not journalism. Don't ever believe anything based solely on video evidence.

When in peril on the sea, nobody is in any mood to be taking pictures, and certainly not movies. It would take hours, maybe days or weeks, to film even a few minutes of real panic on the water. And there's always the personnel and paraphernalia involved.

This is why "Jaws" was such a great film. Maybe the mechanical shark was hokey, but the editing and cinematography really captured exactly what it is like to be in a small boat in trouble. Even the most experienced hands are right on the edge of panic. It takes extreme mental and physical discipline to accomplish even the most routine tasks.

PS. The first (and only) time I went on an extended solo sailing trip was on a long Thanksgiving weekend . My girlfriend was supposed to go camping with me on the island, but we had a big fight and I decided to go by myself. On the way to my house to get the boat, I stopped at the Mall and watched "Jaws", it had just come out and I caught the first showing, at noon. That was not a good idea.

Although the sail was uneventful, even routine, I really can't say I had a good time. And I certainly didn't feel like taking any pictures.