How did I know I was in 40-foot waves? I did not.

The waves were extremely high; the sea surface was covered with white foam
and long streaks

When I made it to Ingermar, a safe heaven, a group of people was inside the
breakwater. They were all looking at me and my boat getting in.

While helping me to tie up my boat they stated that I was very lucky. They
mentioned that they had been watching me with binoculars coming in. They
then said,"you were on your own" Because all vessels including the coast
guards were tied inside the break water and were unable to go out. Soon
after the coast guard told me that, I was lucky to be safe since all Rescue
Helicopters were grounded because of the high seas and strong wind. I then
asked about the height of the waves they replied 40 feet. Then the local
radio stations confirmed that all beaches were closed because of 40-foot
waves.


"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
Roger Long wrote:
There are solid physical reasons why even the most experience sailors
overestimate wave heights by about 100%.

Roger,
It may be true that some overestimate wave heights by this much, but it is
hardly universal. For moderate waves, I am quite confident in my
estimates. It's really quite simple. If you know the height of your eye
above the water as you sit in the cockpit (for instance, mine is just a
hair over 6') then if the wave top is above the horizon while you are in
the trough, it is over 6', if it doesn't, it is under 6'. By adjusting
for how much it appears to be higher/lower than the horizon, you can then
get a very good estimate for waves up to about twice your base height.
Beyond that, it becomes more difficult and the wave heights become more of
a guesstimate than an estimate as it is difficult to really tell if it is
even with the spreaders or how much above/below them the waves really are.

Note that using this method, you also have to adjust a bit depending on
the amount of heel and whether you are sitting on the high or low side of
the cockpit.

p.s.
Don't forget that all waves have two heights, the one we write down in the
log and the one we tell about at the bar in the story that begins "No
****, you won't believe....". Could this be the source of your assertion
that most sailors overestimate by 100%?