Early Morning Wedge a few days ago

Posted on August 26th, 2010 in Blog, Ocean by MILO

In this photo Joe Mcelroy. The photo was taken by T. Ferguson. The location was the Wedge in Newport Beach.
The Wedge is a world-famous surfing and bodysurfing spot located at the extreme south end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. During a south swell of a particular size and direction, the Wedge can produce huge waves as spectacular and intimidating as any in Hawaii, Tahiti, or Australia.
The waves are a by-product of improvements to the groin (rock jetty) on the north side of the Newport Harbor entrance undertaken during the 1930s.[1] When conditions are just right and the waves approach the shore at the proper angle (south swells), an approaching wave will reflect off the groin creating a second wave. The reflected wave meets up with the following wave of the set and forms a peak. Because of this effect, waves at the wedge are often several feet larger than waves at other south facing beaches in Newport on any given day.
The Wedge only breaks big when intense Southern Hemisphere storms or large Tropical Depressions, and Hurricanes send their energy in the proper SSW direction, primarily during the summer & fall months.