Breaker Breaker

I suspect that all of you have stood on the beach at one time or another and watched the waves roll in.

I remember watching the movie "Castaway" with Tom Hanks. There is a scene in that flick shot from the top of the hill, where the camera pans 360 degrees. Did you notice that no matter what direction the shore line faces, the waves always come towards the shore?

Why is that?

Why don't the breakers ever go out?

Or sideways?

Is it a conspiracy by the travel industry to prevent California surfer dudes from getting a free ride to Hawaii?

Are waves magnetically attracted to land?

If you can explain this phenomena, please tell me so I can sleep at night.

Cheers,
Rick