U.S. TV cameras follow famous captain to St. John's courthouse
Last Updated: Friday, September 26, 2008 | 4:46 PM ET
CBC News
Linda Greenlaw would not speak with reporters after she posted bail Friday. (CBC)An American TV crew followed a fishing captain to the provincial courthouse in St. John's Friday after a U.S. swordfish boat was charged with illegal fishing.
The skipper of the Sea Hawk is Linda Greenlaw, one of the real-life characters behind the movie The Perfect Storm. The charges were laid after a vessel was allegedly caught fishing just inside Canadian waters Sept. 23.
According to news reports, Greenlaw left Fairhaven, Mass., Sept. 16 with a film crew documenting the sword fishery for the American broadcaster NBC.
The producer is Original Productions, famous for reality TV series such as Deadliest Catch, Monster Garage and America's Toughest Jobs.
The company's cameras rolled — despite being told by court officials that they weren't permitted — while Greenlaw signed her bail conditions and paid bail of $10,000 for herself and $55,000 for the Sea Hawk and its catch.
Greenlaw, her crew and their lawyer left the courthouse in a rush and would not speak to reporters. The Sea Hawk has been released and is free to leave.
Federal officials in Ottawa aren't commenting.
In 1991, Greenlaw was the skipper of the Hannah Boden, which, along with the Andrea Gail, headed into a storm called the 1991 Halloween Nor'easter. It was described as a perfect storm as it caused giant tides and gale-force winds that resulted in millions of dollars in damage and 12 deaths. Six fishermen were lost and never found when the Andrea Gail went down
Greenlaw became a celebrity after the movie and has since written several books.
Her next court appearance is Oct. 27.
