Brother Cameron, you might look into a 28-35 foot Island Packet. Good all-round boat that will take the weather on passages. The longer the water line the better for speed. Wing keels are cool for tracking but a good full keel boat is the answer for distance sailing.
Should you not be monied by nature, you might start out with an older boat. Don't worry about the paint job but check out the hull for bubbling, etc. Check the bonding between the keel and hull as well (MUST BE STRONG.) Make sure you have at least storage of 150 gallons of water.
Then go after the standing rigging. YOU must have a back stay for open water sailing! They won't be out there with you when the wind picks up. Same goes for the mast(s). They should be well seated to the keel, not compressed to the deck alone. Running rigging should be in tip-top shape before you venture past the dock.
However, remember, less than 10 percent of the boats you see in Keymah and Galveston every venture out for crossing. Thirty to forty percent never leave the dock. If you're one of those SAILORS (#@^@#) ... of paramount importance will be location, location, location. You must pick the right slip in which to keep your boat!
You'd want to be close enough to a community shower and head to keep yourself presentable. You'd also prefer to be close enough, but not too close, to the yacht club restaurant and bar to stay in touch with the community's goings on.
Later, when you grow "older but not up" you will realize what are the two greatest days in your life: the day you bought das boat and the day you sold das boat.
just a few meanderings from an ole salt of years gone by who's "metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck."
:15:
p.s. There is a legitimate place for those SAILORS (#@^@#) in every anchorage. They usually throw a good party with plenty of the good music with pretty lasses on display. Too, when they get the urge to sail you can get them to stock the stores and coolers in Keymah and drop them off in Galveston (blue to the gills) and sail off in peace and quiet ... with, that is, stocked stores and coolers.
They call it learn'N the lines land lubber ... learn'N the lines.
"I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead."
quote lines attributed to master Jimmy Buffett, I'm Growing Older But not Up