Sea Kayaking Tide Races: Grey Dogs Whirlpools....Bite !!

During 5 Days Sea Kayaking off Scotland's West Coast, among the Slates Isles, Corryvreckan and Grey Dogs tide races, during some of the largest Spring Tides of the year we met with some of our group who were doing day trips based at Cuan Sound.
We decided to have fun running the Grey Dogs tide race at maximum flood despite Will and I being in our fully laden sea kayaks.
The overfalls and standing waves were completely washed out by the extremely fast tidal flow which was now producing several large whirlpools!! One of the group was slingshot around the rim of the whirlpool 2 complete revolutions before paddling free, while another of the group wasn't so lucky, disappearing straight down the vortex with a resulting swim and rescued by other members of the group once the stream had subsided.
A cracking day enjoyed by all in very extreme conditions!!

[@daveross7]

Amazing stuff mate.

[@geoffburke]

Cheers! Aye it was going at some speed. I'd not been through with that much flow, pleased we knew there was no Westerly swell running too. It would've been proper carnage 😂😂😂

[@andynichol563]

Good stuff Geoff

[@geoffburke]

Cheers Andy, you and Cara would love Grey Dogs and Corryvreckan tide races !! Such phenomenon off the West Coast...get those sea kayaks out this coming year, we're going on a road trip. 😃🤪😜👍

[@calatoruldac]

I see very strong tidal currents that have created eddies of water where you pulled something stronger.

[@geoffburke]

Hi Viorel, absolutely 💯 a very strong & fast tidal stream with violent eddies creating the whirlpools, strangely in the middle of the sound !!

[@calatoruldac]

@@geoffburke I'm glad everyone had a good time. Anyway, you are very brave! ​👍

[@geoffburke]

@@calatoruldac Thanks Viorel so pleased you're enjoying these little adventures, stay tuned for the video's from the full 5 day trip 😊 👍

[@davidpoots8362]

High adrenaline stuff

[@geoffburke]

Thanks David, the speed of water pushing through the entire chanel was just so fast and with normal features washed out made it very difficult to identify the depression of the whirlpools, leaving little time to take evasive action even from the wider slingshot effect 😃😂