Meanings
- idiomaticuncountableOcean conditions that are very windblown and messy, possibly to the point of being inimical to surfing and other watersports.
It's not Maui, but wind swell becoming Victory At Sea conditions on the outside as it goes 4.2.
2005, Glenn Woodell, “Omaezaki?”, in rec.windsurfing (Usenet)4 more examples
It is total "Victory at Sea" out there today- 17 to 25 knot onshore winds kicking up big. messy windswell/chop everywhere.
1995, Tom Tweed, “1/5/95 sd cali. surf 7-8' onshore slop”, in alt.surfing (Usenet)It is extremely fast and comfortable to ride in 2 foot chop like we had in the ocean today. It will still run near 60 in that "victory at sea" if one can hang on.
1998, Jim Shuck, “Watercraft World Recap”, in rec.sport.jetski (Usenet)2004, Vans Triple Crown press release 11.16.2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20060321040308/http://www.transworldsurf.com/surf/competition/article/0,19929,783378,00.html A diminishing swell Saturday led officials to call for a lay day, then a strong on-shore storm system moved through overnight leaving victory at sea conditions yesterday.
HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS CONTINUE TODAY WITH VICTORY AT SEA CONDITIONS. SOME BEACH EROSION HAS LIKELY OCCURRED OVER IN THE PANHANDLE.
2011, National Weather Service, Area Forecast Discussion Tallahassee FL 11:28 AM EDT Mon Sep 5 2011
Origin
Reputed to refer to the wind-blown rolling seas in the movie and television series Victory at Sea.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
victory at sea. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/victory%20at%20sea
“victory at sea.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/victory%20at%20sea. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “victory at sea,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/victory%20at%20sea.
Source: victory at sea on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.