"Cruising the Northwest Coast" by George Benson. He wrote about his trips up the coast from SF to the Sound in a 27' Coronado. He stayed inshore, anchored most every night in Bays and Cuts that were sheltered from the prevailing NW winds. Not a quick trip but an adventure.

Strangely, for those want to sail, Jan, Feb, March have a good chance of winds with some southerly component. Only problem is these are the result of lows that can make for some interesting conditions. Talked with a couple in a Tartan 41 who sailed the trip in the winter. Said they had good sailing all the way up from SF with a stop or two to hide from the weather. From experience, it isn't much warmer to sail off the California Coast in summer than it is in the winter.