Large waves and drifting buoys in the Southern ocean

In July 2017 a wave measuring buoy located south of New Zealand broke its mooring and started drifting, still transmitting the essential information. During its short mooring period it also measured a particularly high wave. We make a detailed analysis of the storm, the measured and model spectra allowing also a keen search of the suitability of the conditions for single large waves. The availability of the data in both moored and drifting conditions offers the possibility of a quantified discussion on the accuracy of the measurements in the two different situations.