Maugan,
You started the story by saying you were with your sailing club. But it sounds like you were all by yourself when you went out into the ocean. If that is the case, it was a dumb thing to do in those conditions. Regardless of how experienced you are, you should have at least one "buddy boat" with you -- especially when you are singlehanding.

You also did not say whether the wind was blowing onshore or offshore, which also makes a difference in the risk factor of going onto the ocean.