I read Susan Casey’s The Wave[0] about 8-9 years ago, it is told from alternative perspectives of sailors and big wave surfers - Laird Hamilton to be specific. A fascinating read, I highly recommend it. More I read about it less likely that I’m ever going to take a cruise :)

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Pursuit-Rogues-Freaks-Giants/dp/...

> "There are no freak waves in the world,” says naval architect Jon Etxegoien. “They are all predictable."

This book argues that there are waves that do not follow a logical pattern: http://www.amazon.com/Wave-Pursuit-Rogues-Freaks-Giants/dp/0...