This table is only intended as a guide to show roughly what may be expected in the open sea, remote from land. It should never be used in the reverse way, i.e., for logging or reporting the state of the sea. In enclosed waters, or when near land, with an off-shore wind, wave heights will be smaller and the waves steeper. Crests have a glassy appearance and do not break.
Crests begin to break.
Foam of glassy appearance. Perhaps scattered white horses. Chance of some spray. Probably some spray. Near Gale Sea heaps up and white foam from breaking waves begins to be blown in streaks along the direction of the wind.