Set waves are those waves that come in larger than the overall significant wave height (Hs). Significant wave height is the largest 1/3 of waves and is the wave height a trained observer would report. However there are statistically going to be larger waves than Hs. The highest 10% of waves statistically are 1.27 times Hs and the highest 1% of waves are 1.67 times Hs - these are the set waves that we refer to. 1 in 1000 waves (H max) can be nearly two times the size of Hs! So with an Hs of roughly 3 feet, we can expect set waves around 3.8 feet (and perhaps larger) which puts set waves in the chest/shoulder high range.
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That's interesting about the 1 in 1000 being double the size of the significant wave height. With a 10 second period, that's about 1 wave in a 3 hour session. That seems pretty right on to me. I guess that's why we call it the "wave of the day." Always nice when you are the one in position to get it!
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