New sailor, new boat...
...out of curiosity, what are you going to do with the boat once you make landfall in SB? Do you have a mooring or slip to move it into?
Another proposition is to leave the vessel where it is (assuming it is secure) and commute by train down to SD for a few weekends to get your bearings while aboard, and to attend to the a.) motor, b.) as much safety gear as you can manage, c.) navigation skills, and d.) everything else recommended above, such as food, water, and...accommodations. If you can't drink it, don't flush it is the prevailing theme in most coastal refuges.
If you have to move it, perhaps a ball in SD Harbor (or guest slip) might be a better trial initially. Sailing in SD Bay is a blast on a boat this size with plenty to see while you get to keep your feet relatively dry, and taste test the salt of things to come. And it is closer to the amtrak station.
The fastest you'll be able to sail at hull speed is about 6 knots, but figure a good jog instead. How fast can you jog to SB? A displacement vessel won't move faster than hull speed, and your yacht is a displacement vessel.
With an operable motor you'll make better time motor sailing against prevailing winds and currents. Going south is easier if you want to sail. Going to Hawaii first might be easier if you want to sail north but will take longer... ask Christian on the forum, or search for his single handed voyage from LA to HI and back to LA on the forum. Otherwise you'd better attend to that motor. How fast can you jog to HI and back? Christian knows...
NOAA has good information about sea conditions and winds.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KLOX.html
Brian Fagan has some good books about the Southern California Coast and Channel Islands
http://www.amazon.com/Cruising-Guide-California-Channel-Islands/dp/093003032X
The 7th district coastal pilot is available by download in pdf from
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot_w.php?book=7
And there are plenty of sources for free charts in pdf format also.
The USCG aux offers Coastal Navigation and Sailing & Seamanship classes for a nominal fee. They'll even inspect your vessel for basic safety supplies for free.
http://cgaux.org/vsc/
They also have released a smart phone app that will allow you to call for help if needed, and is loaded with tons of basic information about safety and being on the sea.
http://www.uscg.mil/mobile/
Personally, from San Diego I'd head to Avalon and perhaps Two Harbors (to spend a long weekend a guest of Catalina Island); the cattle boats will take you back to the mainland. > Long Beach or San Pedro (26 miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is away from me...), and another train station 26 / 6 = hours of hull speed if motor sailing?> Tacking back out towards one of the Channel Islands, like a big stretch toward Santa Cruz (bring ice and gas... you can sail without gas, but you cannot sail without ice) > Channel Islands Harbor for a guest slip and fish dinner > Easy day to Ventura Harbor for a guest slip and a beer to wash down the fish dinner> And onto SB Harbor for...an opportunity to say "what happened on the boat, stays on the boat."
You'd be crossing shipping lanes a couple of times... how's that motor doing?
Go! Have your adventure as soon as you can. Enjoy your Ericson as they're terrific boats to sail and very forgiving. And be safe along the way. I guess that makes safety third, not the best nautical advice, but what happens on the boat stays on the boat...
T.
September Sun
Ericson 35 MkIII
Channel Islands Harbor
ERY35240D686