We all earned our heavy weather sailing merit badges yesterday.  Winds to 40 knots and seas in excess of 10 feet.  Apropos surfed down steep waves at 9 knots.  We sailed through the night in these conditions and pulled into Crescent City at 5:30am in thick fog.  Exhausted but well pleased with Apropos in these conditions.  Oh, and we saw whales!

 http://youtu.be/TAVOSB4K_Kc (heavy weather sailing video)