It completely depends on your level of comfort. I used to sail a Hobie 17 in high winds and big chop and loved it. I was younger then.
My first year with the Getaway was on Lake Michigan. Sometimes there were big, steep waves, close together. Pound, pound, pound. That, I didn't love. The boat took it fine. Me, not so much.
Something to consider is that if the waves are big, it can be much more difficult to right the boat on a capsize. That made me uncomfortable on Lake Michigan in rough weather, since I was almost always alone. I now mostly sail on a 10,000 acre lake that has a rapid response rescue boat. I'll go out in anything, because Harvey will be there if I get in trouble!
