Replying to Tom House comments:
I'll second what Guy says about motoring straight into the wind and waves. We started out on a day that didn't seem too bad in the Intracoastal Waterway on Florida's east coast and ran straight into 3 to 4 foot waves at just the wrong period for the length of the boat. I don't think the winds were close to 20 knots but I was shocked at how high the bows went up over the waves and could see the wind billowing the tramp pushing the boat even higher. We had the main up but not pulling yet so it wasn't much of a factor. I quickly moved everyone forward and retreated back into the harbor. If I could have bore off slightly it would have been much easier but the lightness of the boat made it easy for the waves to pitch it up too high into the wind for comfort and safety.

I had a similar experience leaving the inlet at Port Everglades where more than half the boat was airborne over the steep waves coming in against the tide. Any more wind than we had would have probably blown it over backwards. I've certainly sailed in higher winds on many occasions (actually look forward to it) but am more careful about heading into certain seas under windy conditions. If you go offshore often or sail where conditions change rapidly, an open weave tramp is probably better suited to that type of sailing.

Altho I never hope to get caught in severe conditions, my plan of action would be to run off with bare poles trailing warps. I don't think using the motor on a stock 27 in heavy seas is a viable option as the prop will be lifted out. If I had a parachute than I would consider bows into the wind but otherwise no way.