I'm trying to find the history of this quote. I hope someone can direct me to the right place.

It's hard to find any info about the origin of that quote, but I've found something here:

Also called "fair winds and a following sea." The traditional farewell (or toast) of a mariner is wishing a friend "fair winds and following seas." The full version is "Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw!" The phrase may also be considered a Naval blessing as well as a farewell. "We bid shipmates farewell with this naval blessing because it represents the ideal underway conditions for which Sailors yearn." It is also said for a departed mariner at a funeral. Despite the pleasant condition of a following sea alluded to in the above phrase, the condition may not always be all that pleasant: See under "Following Seas" further below and also under 'F'.

Following Seas:

Despite the old traditional farewell of (or for) a mariner wishing someone "fair winds and following seas," The pleasant condition of a following sea (the waves coming directly from behind the direction of travel) is not always all that pleasant: Going too fast with a following sea may drive the vessel through the swell ahead onto the downside where the following swell can catch the stern, cause the vessel to yaw, throwing it broadside to the swells. This yawing or "broaching to" may cause the vessel to capsize. An equally dangerous situation may result if the vessel's speed is close to the speed of the swell upon which it is riding causing a loss of steering control. Furthermore a following sea can lead to a situation known as being "pooped." We use the expression "I'm pooped" meaning "I am completely exhausted." Large sailing vessels had a poop deck aft where the helmsman and the wheel were situated. If the vessel was sailing downwind with a high following sea the waves might swamp over the poop deck. In smaller vessels the effect of seas breaking over the poop of the vessel might be the swamping the cockpit, damage to steering and navigation equipment or worse. In all cases it is said that the vessel has been pooped.

Source: http://www.leicesterandleicestershir...ords_Page3.htm

That's exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you for your help.