A exciting adventure sport that provides a breathtaking aerial perspective of the surrounding environment is parasailing. For those who dare to attempt it, it may be a thrilling and unforgettable experience, but there are a few things to consider before purchasing your tickets. We have all the information you want here if you intend to go parasailing soon. Discover when it’s best to go parasailing, how much it costs, what to wear, and where to make reservations by reading on.
Do you want your parasailing adventure to be one you’ll never forget? If so, you must make advance preparations. We’ll make sure your parasailing excursion is one of the greatest you’ve ever had because you’re going on it to have an experience that will last a lifetime. The ideal time to reserve parasailing is when? We are here to provide you with some advice so that you won’t be let down when you visit. For additional details, continue reading.
How Does Parasailing Work?
One of the nicest ways to view the world from above is to parasailing. Participants in this adventurous sport are fastened to a large parachute by a harness that is connected to a boat by a towline. The winch and wind lift the parachute into the air once the boat is moving, providing a stunning perspective of the landscape below. This is a well-liked pastime that is accessible in many locations across the world, but only in a few particular regions of Canada. If you adhere to the required precautions, it may be both exciting and secure.
Parasail Wing
Parakiting is another term for parasailing, and how can kites fly? Well, of course, by getting some air. The parasail wing is the part of your parasail that needs to be able to capture air as well.
Putting jargon aside, your parachute is the parasail wing. Your gondola or harness is fastened to a horizontal metal bar upon which the wing is fastened.
Also read: How Dangerous Is Parasailing (What You Need to Know)
Your parachute’s nylon structure keeps it lightweight while yet offering strength. If you make a special request when you make the reservation over the phone, you might be able to choose the color of the parasail wing. Even though you’re not allowed to choose the color, you can be sure that the parachute will be a standout shade.
Is the only purpose of this to enhance your parasailing experience? Not completely. The parasail’s Day-Glo colors make them more visible. A vibrant pink or highlighter yellow parachute will be much easier to notice in the sky than a white or light blue one.
Tow Rope
The tow rope, sometimes referred to as the parasail rope, is the last component of the parasail arrangement. You won’t ever need to be concerned about coming into contact with the rope because this will attach to the parasail wing and not your seat.
Possibly the most significant component of the entire system is the tow line. The boat that the skipper captains is connected to at the other end of the rope. You acquire height as the boat is sped up by the skipper. We’ll get into this further shortly.
The ropes used for parasailing are made to be durable, so you won’t have to worry about the line breaking. They generally consist of polyester yarn with a wax coating on the outside to strengthen the rope’s resistance to friction. Additionally, the strands are stacked and double braided.
Boat operators must use tow ropes that are at least 800 feet long according to FAA regulations, however longer tow ropes are also available.
How Do Parasails Work?
Let’s put all the components of a parasail together to describe how parasails function now that you are more familiar with them.
Part 1: Getting Strapped In
You will have already decided whether you want to ride in a gondola or a harness for your parasail experience. The number of riders you will bring along with you should have been reserved as well, with a maximum of three.
You’ll be fastened in your seat by the boat driver or other parasail crew members. You’ll receive a life jacket, sometimes referred to as a life vest. Your life jacket must fit properly. If you fell into the water, the vest may just fall off if it is too loose. Breathing restrictions caused by a tight vest provide a further hazard.
You want a tight fit that allows you to lift and move your arms easily and that also makes breathing easy. If your life vest doesn’t suit you, make careful to let someone know before you climb. You need a different vest, they should obtain it.
Part 2: Connecting The Tow Rope
The skipper will now tie or hook the opposite half of the tow line or parasail rope to their boat after it has already been fastened to your parasail wing. The tow rope will be long enough to give it enough give so you won’t have to worry about it snapping as the boat starts to go further away from your parasail, and all connections will be secure.
Part 3: Ascent!
Either on a dock or a beach, your parasailing adventure will begin. The space that opens up between you and the skipper when the boat moves off (slowly, of course) causes the tow line to pull and raise you up. You launch yourself into the air with your parachute as a light sea wind catches in it. Then you’ll softly float in the air, occasionally dipping but mostly maintaining your height.
How tall? FAA regulations prohibit you from climbing higher than 500 vertical feet. Your captain will maintain your height inside that range or lower since she is aware of it.
Your time in the air will depend on the parasailing package you purchased. You will be in the air for around 30 minutes, perhaps a little more, if your package is for 40 minutes. Take some photos, enjoy the view of the ocean from a different angle, feel the wind in your hair, and just have fun!
Part 4: Descending
The captain will start the landing procedure, which we just detailed in a post, as your journey draws to an end. Here, we’ll quickly review how it functions for you.
The captain’s boat has a hydraulic winch that may draw in the tow line. You draw closer to the boat as the length of the tow line decreases, which will inevitably cause you to fall out of the sky. We must emphasize that this is a pleasant, simple, progressive approach. Most parasailers don’t even realize the descent has begun until they are very near to the shore, as we mentioned in our piece on landing.
If you’re a thrill-seeking parasailer, this is the period when your skipper could let you skid over the water and splash over the waves while getting your feet wet. The default landing is a gradual descent, so no special requests are necessary.
Either on the boat platform or the pier where you departed is where your skipper will land you. Set your legs slightly apart and prepare to land. You unbuckle from your harness or gondola after you’re back on stable ground. You may take off your life jacket, give back all of your gear, and continue with your day as normal.
Things To Know Before Going Parasailing
Location
If you want to go parasailing, you’ll need to be close to the water because the majority of operators are situated on a lake or coastline. This is so that the chute may be securely deployed and retrieved during parasailing, which needs a lot of free space.
Weather
Before booking a parasail adventure, it’s important to check the weather because parasailing is a water sport. Clear sky, little wind, and little wave action are ideal. Very little wind is required for parasailers to fly, but too much wind can be harmful. Being in the air with parasail chutes is risky when there are heavy winds since they resemble enormous sails. Because of this, most operators won’t let parasailers take off if the wind speed is too high.
Temperature
Despite the fact that parasailing is done on water, you are not required to swim or even get wet if you don’t want to. In the middle of the summer, some companies allows you to “dip” your toes into the water for a moment to have some fun and cool down.
Age
There may be an upper age limit for parasailing with some providers. For instance, you could have to be at least five years old or a certain weight to fly. You may always give us a call to go through the particular needs for your group.
Season
As soon as the weather is warm enough, you should go parasailing. You should check the weather before you travel because parasailing is often only done during the summer months.
When Is The Best Time To Go Parasailing?
Since parasailing is weather-dependent, as was already indicated, you should check the forecast before scheduling a parasail tour. Clear sky, little wind, and little wave action are ideal. Additionally, booking earlier in the day is a smart idea because the Okanagan Lake is normally calmer and the afternoon wind can occasionally kick up and become too unstable for flying.
