I noted that the sun/moon rose from the "land" and then set in the ocean.  So, using the sun/moon rise and set...I headed out.  I seemed to be successful.  I headed out for 5 day/night cycles and always stayed easily on track with the direction of the setting orb.  Then, at one point, I went back two days and found the two islands I'd visited before (I put houses on them...)...then, I continued outward for a few more day cycles.  THEN, after discovering a great diamond mine (etc) I decided to head back to the mainland...now I am many, many days traveling toward sun/moon rise...and no mainland.  NOW, I didn't have a compass on the way out until about 1/2 way out...and I found that my compass matched with the sun/moon.  THEN, on the way home...my compass altered by 90 degrees as I traveled smack dab into the center of my sun/moon rise.  I decided to trust the skies rather than my compass.  But, now I seem to be lost.  I ALSO (how's this for weird) came upon a mushroom island (and thought - oh no, now I'm lost) that I hadn't seen on the way out...then, BAM!  I come upon an island I had left a house on...then, I'm coming to mushroom islands again.  

SO....the question is...does Minecraft maintain its integrity in the ocean?  The see has detailed "currents" that seem to be consistent and I've never deviated from either the lines in the water or the direction of planetary sun/moon travel.  IS THERE A BUG?  OR...what?

I would dearly like to see land again.

Thanks for your ideas...

March