The angular size can be calculated by an arctan formula:
When a ship moves further away, its appearent size decreases related the distance. And D (height) stays same.
When there is a wave, it incases the ship when their apparent size becomes equal.
So,
If we take a wave has d heigh and l distance from observation point, so it turns to:
Apparent sizes have to be equal:
Now we can work on an example:
A ship has 10 metres high
A wave far us 100 metre and it has a high of 1 metre
So;
The distance of ship disappearing behind a wave:
Our formula was:
D/L = d/l
So;
10 metres / X = 1 / 100 metres.
X=1000
So ship disappears in a thousand metres.
If ship becomes 20 metres high, it disappears a 2.000 metres far.
If we use a highness, for example we are also have a high, it increases our sight range by itself. We'll examine this situation later.
PS: This working has been created after examine zorbakim's working as a base and support if it.