Guinness World Records can confirm that Garrett McNamara has entered the record books for surfing the largest ever wave.

The Hawaiian 44-year-old managed to surf a mammoth 78-foot wave last November at Nazaré, Portugal, a feat which has now been ratified by GWR after examining evidence.

His epic ride, which required him to be towed into the wave from a jetski, beats a record set by Mike Parsons at Cortes Bank in southern California, in 2008 by over a foot.

Garrett, a professional big wave surfer for the Body Glove International team, is part of an elite group that travels the world chasing storms and tracking swells in an effort to surf the largest waves.

In the past he has ridden breaks such as Waimea in Oahu, Mavericks in California and Todos Santos in Mexico.

Describing the record breaking wave ride, Garrett said: "It's the most challenging, dangerous wave I've ever surfed - it's the only place in the world in which a giant canyon reaches all the way to the beach".

Among those to congratulate Garrett on his achievement was Jorge Barroso, mayor of the town of Nazaré, who commended the daredevil surfer with a tribute at last week's 2012 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Award awards ceremony in Anaheim, California.

The mayor said: "It is an honour to bring this title to our waters.. For the strength, bravery and the constant will to improve. Nazaré is a bit like your second home and our population admires you."

The record for largest wave surfed (paddle-in) remains held by Shane Dorian, who managed  to successfully ride a wave measured at measured 57ft (17.4 m) in height without a tow at a break known as 'Jaws' off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, USA in March last year.