These rogue waves happen occasionally.  The third week of January
1967, I was serving on the Coast Guard Cutter Evergreen South of
Newfoundland. During a week long storm, one day, all afternoon,  Every
half an hour another set of three waves maybe 80ft high would assault
us. The first wave was a vertical wall of water that broached the
ship, nearly capsizing us.
   "It was the best of times, and the worst of times."
Maranatha Lewis