Hi Jay,
First of all congrats on getting a new boat and your obviously still alive to write this post! Pheww!
To answer your first question, a rule of thumb I use is you don't want to be travelling in any wind greater than 1=knot to 1=foot of boat length.
E.g my 16ft boat I wouldn't travel in 16knots of wind.
I would suggest that travelling offshore is about confidence and experience, maybe ask someone to go with you, or follow another boat out and maybe go a bit further each time!
Happy boating and stay safe!
Cheers scratchie!!!