If the sea is flat it looks like this, relative to someone sitting in the cockpit...... (Notice the bad weather looming )

The Atlantic always has some swell but quite often it has a lot of swell with waves on top. You go up and down 3 metres or sometimes more. When you are at the bottom of the swell the view from the cockpit looks like this........

Or this......... |

Or this......... |

When the wind is stronger the white horses appear, the swell gets bigger and starts to break...... |

Which creates a lot of foam as you surf down the wave. Huge, huge fun. |
Best fun is to be on the helm, feel the boat get picked up as the swell comes in from behind..... |

Breaks with a lot of noise...... |

Gives you a great big push forward and then flattens out again..... |

Note the relaxed pose of all those on board. |