6ft face, I call head high BUT, I know a few people that would call that logo OR EVEN mast high (particularly if I can't make it that day).

It's been a while but I seem to remember that the Hawaiians measure the wave heights from the back of the wave (just to stir the pot a little).

Grumples,
The short answer is that there is no concensus.

Take a look at http://www.hawaii.rr.com/leisure/reviews/neal_miyake/2003-05_hsmwhihawaii.htm
which explains the different height measurements.

Personally I always use the "scientific" measurement (Wave height is the distance from a wave's trough to its crest (i.e. amplitude). The crest is the top of an unbroken wave, the trough is at the bottom of the front of the wave).

JB

Hi Folks,

Well you are sailing the front of the wave, so that's the area to measure I reckon. With windsurfing you've got the advantage of the mast to measure against, so why not use it? Mind you, with sails becoming shorter, these days a mast high wave ain't what it used to be!

Cheers, Jens

I never understood measuring from the back of the wave. You sail/surf on the face dont you? If you're doing a bottom turn and the crest is head high, that's a six foot wave in my book. Maybe it's the great Australian tradition of understatement...

Yes and that is why I think using the back is stupid. (1) everyone is looking at the front. Somebody is standing up in front of it so why not use the face? makes more sense. (2) swell height is measured in the open ocean from trough to peak... same as sound waves and any other wave ever...... scientific standard. (3) if you measure the back, you get the above silly situation where a 3m swell gives you a 1m wave. In reality where I sail a 3m swell is well over mast high and quite nasty in some places.

MD are you sure about the yanks, cos I'm positive Hawaii (surfers at least) go off the back of the wave???

We need to start an online education web page to get everyone talking face sizes.

good point rex, I do agree 100% with you, I hate calling a great 6ft wave a 3 footer! sounds weak!

haha mrs kana! I work right here on the computer, thats why im here so often! Although I ussually work late arvo thru to midnight.

when i get bored with working, which is a lot, I check out seabreeze!

nice work eggs! that would have scared the bejesus out of ya im sure!

flat, small, head high, over head, way over head, big, huge, serious gonads required, dreaming bro

opinions required- what height is the wave in the video link?
sensational stuff!

Heard a couple of da huis calling head and a half to double head pavillions, 2 feet once.

Gestalt wins hands down

my 2 cents worth
6 foot triggs is about 3 foot margaret river or hawaiin scale or 1m swell
3 foot margaret river/hawaiian is about head high
6-8 foot margaret river is really scary and I would say at least double to triple overhead - or say 3m swell
I like measuring by head height or mast height at the front of the wave though - sounds better and easy to understand, usually with a few other descriptive words like "it was f***ing huge!".

No. Wave fin 22cm x 2.5 = 55cm. If you use the stupid damn back of the wave measurement that is about 4ft face.... which if peeling nice, pretty hollow in the section and if it is really windy cross-off that is damn good fun.

Another reason the back of the wave measurement is f%cked ..... some of my best days ever have been in fin and half waves