Abnormal Wave, Jan. 1, 2013

[perchance]

Originally Posted by Andrew Troup

Submarine landslide was my thought also, as I can't think of any other plausible explanation, especially since land was in the way for it to be a freak coincidence of a number of underlying wavetrains coinciding at a peak. Furthermore, you would expect other waves building up to and decaying from that highest individual wave, if it was a question of summation.Landslides on dry land can happen in the absence of seismic activity, indeed they usually do, so I see no reason to doubt Cormorant's assertion that this is also possible for underwater landslides.

The subsea coast of Hawaii is littered with the remains of long run out lanslides so definitely not out of the question as a potential cause.

[Roy M]

About 100 miles west of San Diego, out in the middle of nowhere, lies a spot that generates the largest surfable waves on the planet. The Cortez Bank rises from deep water to within 6 feet of the surface as Bishop Rock. This spot took a big 65 foot bite out of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in 1985. It nailed one of the boats in my yacht club during a Round Bishop Rock race two years ago. Sailing along in a light fog, and light wind, at 3AM, they were thrown on their beam ends with no warning. Fortunately, all the companionway boards were in and the hatch closed, and all on watch were secured. Folks inside got rousted pretty violently, as well.

[brianb00]

What was the depth at your location ? Did the wave pass over a nearly flat plane that would provide enough pitch up to cause a wave to break ?

[landonshaw]

Not sure of the depth, although Open CPN says it was over 1000 ft in that area. It seems as a gradual rise from there to shore.