On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:28:39 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

That's a bit funny- but I think the photo of the Ditmar Donaldson
punching through that surf *does* serve as a good reference for wave
height. The USCG review of the incident reportedly refered to that as
a "20 foot" wave. A legitimate 8-footer would still be 40% as large-
so I do try to bear that in mind when I hear boaters describing rather
extreme wave heights. Most people routinely overstate wave height- at
least IMO formed by years of observation. No need, really; 4-5 footers
can make for some really challenging conditions when expressed as
short interval chop.

All true but that's not just any old 20 footer of course. The fact
that it is steep and breaking is what causes all the excitement.