As I recall you want to stay sufficiently offshore when you get in the
area
of El Segundo/Redondo Beach because there are pipelines that go
significantly offshore. I don't have the chart in front of me so I can't
provide you with specifics, but you want to be careful to avoid these.
Also,
I believe there are mooring cans that you need to keep an eye out for.
It's
been a while since I've traversed that section of the coast but I presume
this is still the case.

Exactly. Stay outside of "2ES" buoy to avoid the pipelines and mooring
cans. If you follow waypoints from "10PV" to "2ES" to the south entrance of
MDR you should safely avoid these hazards.

This website has a good discussion of the hazards in Santa Monica Bay:

http://www.californiasailingacademy.com/SMbay.htm