A deep water hybrid parametrical wave model, first discussed in the Joint North Sea Wave Project (Jonswap), has been used to hindcast long-term wave height statistics in the northern North Sea. The wave model was vilidated against wave measurements at two stations near the British Isles. A representative subject of the vigorous gales over the period 1966--1976 was used as input to the model. Extreme value significant wave height statistics were estimated from the independent storm events, taking into account possible secular changes of the wind field extremes. The results are compared with wave height estimates derived in two other studies.