You know, Dave, the world of photography has changed dramatically since you and I started. For instance, there is this thing, called "big stopper," not sure if you heard of it, that youngsters these days use to smooth water surface. It is some kind of a very strong neutral density filter, up to 10 f/stops. You should try it one day. It would surely bring you much closer to your desired "abstract" result, get rid of that busy sea surface.
I've had one for years, well before they became so popular, cost a bloody fortune to have shipped over to the UK with import duties etc.
But I quickly grew tired of that look once everyone else got something similar and the net became awash with long exposure flat sea images, as it's now been done to death. Also using a stopper type filter means the clouds would also be smoothed out flat, which I didn't want. Although I do like a proper reflection if I get the chance to shoot one and the flat sea look can still look amazing if done correctly, it is just that it is now done as a matter of course these days, if you know what I mean.
So yes I do agree with you Slobodan, the sea does indeed look wavy, but that's how the sea looked like at the time I took the shot, wavy, so that's how I captured it to retain detail in the clouds.
Flat sea images are a bit like the assumption these days that because of the over use of HDR and the HDR effect, that images shouldn't have shadows in them and now it is the same with the big stopper filters effect, because non dramatic seas shouldn't have waves in them either it seems.
So yes I agree, perhaps not a shot for everyone and outside of the modern idiom.
I better make sure I never post any long exposure flat sea images now hadn't I? Dave