[bestfriend]

Ah yes, I see now, Aussie. Sure there are lots of places that will get you in trouble besides the shore break itself. Rogue waves in the open ocean under the right conditions will break, and there are formulas showing what is actually needed for that to happen. You're 18'er will get pitched without the need for a break though. All you need to do is catch the bow under water in the trough and you can go over. But, hopefully, you can plan to avoid those situations. Know where you are, where you are going, what the conditions are and will be for the near future, know the limitations of your boat and your crew. Yachtsea is docked in my marina (confiscated, I think) still with no mast, and she is a small boat. Not something I would take out the gate in 20 knot winds.
The problem with that area is that between the current and the wind, you can get taken where you don't want to go. The current along the shore can be going one direction, and the opposite direction 50 yards out. I live, work, surf, and sail in that area. I have seen surfers get taken out to sea, sailboats sail backwards, and people drowned in ankle deep water.