No wind is needed on the Atlantic to get big waves. This can be seen from the following two pictures:
Both pictures are screenshots from the very nice windy.com web site (btw also available as an app on ios). The first one shows total wave height. The more red, the more waves! For the position of Rode Zora one reads off 2.8m with a frequency of 12s from 350 degrees. The second picture shows the wind waves only. No red between the Canaries and the Cabo Verde Islands. For Zoras position on reads off 0m with a frequency of 1s from 0 degrees. Now, this is what the crew sent via email this morning:
They speak of 4-5 m waves. How do these things match up? Are they exaggerating or boasting? I think not! This is why:
The significant wave height is defined as the average height of the highest one third of the waves. Out on the water you will find waves that are twice as high as the significant wave height. So that would mean 5.6m. Hence their statement about 4-5m is pretty accurate because they are of course sensitive to the higher waves. And this is quite an experience!
