East Coast Sea Kayaking Club

The recent club trip to Wicklow Head revealed another danger to add to this interesting area. The danger presents on the ebb as you approach Bride's Head. There is a gully just immediately north of Bride's Head which appears to offer the possibility to bypass Bride's Head race. As you enter the gully all seems normal but the gully narrows as you paddle deeper into it and finally you realise that the exit, while wide enough to allow the now very fast moving water escape through a sometimes submerged hole, will not permit you or your boat to pass. The pressure of the water can prevent a paddler from backpaddling out and the gully is too narrow to turn a seakayak. In the incident that occurred the paddler had his boat jammed across the gully and capsized. Luckily both paddler and boat were recovered without further incident. The rescuer is also put in danger in this situation. It is worth noting this danger along with the danger already noted at the main race where a gap in the rocks can entrap an unwary paddler.