I "sailed" my boat, when I first got her, from LA Harbor to
San Diego

OK, that's a SE heading.

sail was powering me at 2-3 mph

That's not too fast.

(the wind was from the NW)

So you were going dead downwind.

and it was storming with 12 foot swells.

So there was plenty of wind.

And you could only do 2-3 mph! Are you sure you had your
sails up?

dudley
..