When we first tested the Blackhawk, it was a really windy day. We started very carefully because we knew our MNII would be very tippy in those waves. The Blackhawk handled the waves so well that we gradually kept turning until the waves were hitting the canoe broadside and it was fine, very stable.  When going directly into the wind and waves, the front end seems to slice through the waves instead of bouncing up and down.  I've paddled through some big waves many times.  I'm not sure exactly how tall the waves were but they were big and I didn't notice any water coming in.