Dramatic footage of the video, part of which has been posted on YouTube, shows the wobbling horizon as the first wall of water approaches.

“Speed up,” one member of crew shouts. “Hold on to something.”

Then the bow rose, pointing at the sky, as the vessel rode the wave that minutes later would leave a path of destruction ashore, prompting oohs and ahs of relief from the crew.

Minutes later, 5 km out to sea, the same thing happened again. “It’s got to be 10 metres,” one man shouts. Up went the bow and down came the vessel as the wave passed harmlessly underneath.