Jaws Inspiration

While 99% of the people who watch Jaws refrain from swimming for a decade or two after, the good readers of Nautics feel reborn and run to the sea to cast a line with a full tank of oxygen on the end of the line. So this year is a hard year for us as Peter Benchley passed away. To understand his story you need to read Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo. He tells the story of a Bull, no, Great White, no, Tiger, Hammerhead, wait . . . Shark that tormented the Jersey Shore in 1916, killing all kinds of people.

Note on Benchley - David Doubilet wrote a terrific article about Peter Benchley in this month's National Geo - check it out!