The Wedge is a classic "rebound" wave: Each incoming swell pushes against the jetty rocks and rolls back as a refractory wave, which then vectors against the following swell, effectively doubling the wave's height and power, and giving it a distinctive A-line "wedge" shape. Backwash from the steeply canted beach often adds a third wave into the mix.
The Wedge is a product of the jetty built in the 1930 - 1940 era by the Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to protect the nearby harbor in a time of impending WWII.
There is a steep drop-off of the sea-floor as you move away from the beach. The waves are largest when the waves are moving in a south direction, pretty normal for this geographical area, the longer the time between the wave swell tends to create larger waves because of the multiplication of the forces.
On a normal day the Southern swell travels almost directly down the length of the jetty The part of the wave that intersects the jetty rocks starts to pile up on top of itself and will even spill over the top of the jetty into the harbor entrance on bigger swells. This mix of the normal wave and the bulge will eventually reach the beach and the energy that has piled up on the rocks finds itself shoaling and reflecting back away from the jetty at the same time. This action folds the energy back into the more normal wave and suddenly you get the massive wedge peak forming with all of this doubled-up energy that is forced to break in a very shallow water depth, sometimes even on completely dry sand.
Don't go in the water here, just enjoy the view.
Logging: 1. Send me an email with the words "Newport Beach Wedge" in the first line
2. How tall do you estimate was the largest wave you saw today?
3. How far do you estimate the other jetty at Corona Del Mar beach is? You can see it from the Wedge.
4. Please post a picture with your face or geocaching device showing the area. This is a suggestion from Earthcache HQ to prevent armchair caching, plus pictures are always fun!
5. If you want to, talk to a local surfer and see if she says the water was warm or cold. (not required, just fun).