I found the photos I was looking for originally for this thread:
That's me heading out in the Atlantic in 2005 - about 4-6 foot breaking waves. Note the jib is in tight to keep me from going into irons and the main is centered, but with lots of sheet out to relieve some of the pressure on the not-yet-locked-down rudders. Crew is way forward (and holding on tight) to keep the bows down and the boat from flipping over backwards.
Pick your timing - look for a space between the wave sets. I'll wait at the edge of the water and watch the waves for several minutes to get a feel for the wave sets, then when I see an opening develop, launch as the last wave in the set is passing under the boat so the undertow takes you out. Push the boat rapidly out until you're in waist deep water, then hop on the trampoline (that's why I end up on my knees with my butt in the air). Sheet in, bear off to gain speed, head up into the next wave, bear off as the wave passes under you to build speed back up again. Repeat until you're clear of the shore break.
Same year, different coast - me punching out into the Pacific at the 2005 16 North Americans.
You always want to take the waves head on. Getting into irons or sideways to the waves is death. You need to keep the boat moving until you get past the shore break. Once you clear the break, you can stop, catch your breath and lock the rudders down. If you flip, you need to point the mast into the waves and haul the boat back to the beach as fast as you can. You can't right it in the surf.
A direct onshore wind is almost impossible to deal with.
Light air and shore break is almost as bad. Compound that with a Hobie 17 (uni rig that will go into irons if you blink) and thinks get really ugly:
40th Anniversary Regatta, Dana Point, CA.
