I know someone from Vancouver BC who bought a boat here in SoCal. He took it up the coast to SF Bay, then shipped it from there. So he got some of the adventure but avoided the worst part. Plan on lots of motoring.

I've been up the coast as far as SF. As long as you have time it's usually not a problem. No issues getting as far as Coho at Pt Conception, can harbor or island hop that far. Hang out in Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz Isl til conditions look like they will be calming down over night then go to Coho. Leave there at 0-dark-30, put the hammer down and head for Morro Bay. If the NW kicks up too bad, go back, if you make it past Arguello then you can bail out at Avila if necessary. Then Morro and then San Simeon, waiting for decent conditions. Leaving San Simeon, ideally you want to get past Pt Sur and into Monterey but you can potentially bail out at Pfeiffer's lee. After that Monterey, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay and the Gate and you're there. If the northwesterlies don't blow or a southerly fills in - keep going!