I prefer biting the bullet and making it to your destination nonstop (weather permitting) spend a couple or three days decompressing and slowly work your way back hopefully sailing half the time. By making the first leg non-stop you gain more time. The crew is usually exhausted but the hard part is out of the way and (according to Eileen Quinn) "It's a good thing a sailor's got a short memory."

Same as the best way to do a day sail,, go to weather first off and then put the wind at your back and ease on home with a tired but comfortable crew. By the end of the two week trip only the last few days will be remembered vividly. The 36 hour beat to windward under power with crew throwing up will be something to laugh about and remember with distorted and foggy fondness.

As you said "But after a very long nights sleep, it's over, and you're there."