i read a story years ago about 5 sailboats that were caught in a unpredictable super storm in the middle of the south pacific back in the 80s.

One vanished and the other four spent days hand steering down 50 foot waves in 40 to 50 foot sailboats.

Big waves on a small boat at night are a fear that every sailor dreads because you can't see them and predict them just hear them coming like freight trains when their breaking.