Cabrillo to Newport Harbor in gale force winds

We planed a Cabrillo to Newport Harbor downwind run, but it didn't work out that way. This was the worst lineup for a Cabrillo run I have ever seen. We were being hit by a large cross swell pretty much the whole way. We still had fun, but it took longer than we thought it would. We started at 4:00 pm and got in at 8:30 pm (after dark). As we came in the harbor, the Coast Gaurd had 2 red flags up. I had to look up what 2 red flags means when I got home. I had never seen them put up 2 red flags before. It turns out 1 red flag is a small craft warning 2 red flags means Gale force wind warning.