First, I had a wonderful sail on Saturday, a ~ 32 nm race including about 1/3 upwind, 1/3 deep reach, and maybe 1/3 broad reach, give or take. Wind was 20-25 kts (so double reef and 90% jib), and seas were 5' at 9 sec, but this seemed to be 4' at 4 sec wind waves and 2.5 ft at 11 sec swell...
Sail the high seas on a budget...
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/12/03/budget.sailing/index.html?hpt=C2
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Oceans."...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitch-hikers-Guide-Oceans-Crewing-Around/dp/0713662131/ref=dp_ob_title_bk