9 Things to Expect When Parasailing

Parasailing is considered as one of the easiest of water adventures. All it takes is on site training and briefing, you get on board the speed boat, get strapped into the harness and just sit and enjoy the view as the combination of speed and wind slowly lifts you up. This may sound too simple for something that is rapidly gaining popularity as a thrilling sport. But, did I mention that the height involved is between 30 to 100 metres above the water's surface? Now that is where the kick of it comes in!

Here's what you can expect from this sport that gives a 100% percent fun experience.

• Training and safety
A thorough briefing on parasailing and safety measures is done on site before the launch. A group of professionals will get you familiarized with parasailing basics, such as launch positions and airborne safety precautions.

• No age limit and required skill set
Parasailing can be enjoyed by almost anyone! There are no skills required prior to taking part of the activity but in any water adventure, knowing how to swim proves to be most advantageous.

• Unknown fears surface
The speed and heights involved in parasailing can make you discover some fears that you never knew you had. What better way to conquer them then? With a group of trained parasailing professionals with you every step of the way, parasailing can start off with a lot of apprehension and turn into a most thrilling achievement.

• It's HOT!
A parasailing scene consists of lots of water, sun and air. Once you are up at 500feet, it gets even hotter, best to be prepared. Sun block and windburn protection must be applied prior to your launch. Likewise, it is also handy to have a waterproof video camera with you to capture the most wonderful scenery you'll ever feast your eyes on.

• Strong winds
Once you are airborne, expect strong winds that can easily toss light things that you may have with you, such as sunglasses, and other light accessories. It's best to leave all these on the boat or in your hotel room before going parasailing.

• A little tenderness
Apart from being harnessed and towed by the boat using a line, a parachute is also attached to your upper body. Once in the air you will feel a slight backward tug on both shoulders as the parachute comes in contact with strong wind. This can cause slight soreness in the shoulder and armpit area.

• Salt Sprays
On ascent, you may experience some strong salt sprays as a result of wind hitting seawater. A good pair of snugly fit goggles will help from the sprays stinging your eyes, as well as protect it from small particles entering your eyes.

• Defy Gravity
Parasailing gives you the feeling of being weightless as you slowly levitate off the boat's platform. With the right combination of speed and wind, parasailing gives you the most exciting feeling as you take flight, soaring over the middle of the ocean, soaking in more magnificent views as you go higher and higher.

• A liberating experience
Parasailing gives you a feeling of total release from the busy and noisy world down below as you soar to what seems to be an entirely different one. Imagine rising high above the ocean, and seeing the world through a bird's eye view.

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Difference Between Paragliding and Parasailing

According to Wikipedia, "Paragliding is a recreational and competitive flying sport. A paraglide is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing, whose shape is formed by its suspension lines and the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing."

And again according to Wikipedia, "Parasailing, also known as par ascending, is a recreational activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed parachute, known as a parasail. The boat then drives off, carrying the par ascender into the air. The sheer power of the boat is powerful enough for 2-3 people to parasail. The par ascender has little or no control over the parachute."

The difference
Your level of interest helps you decide whether you would choose to go for paragliding or parasailing. Those who yearn to be in the driver's seat, with a sense of adventure and knowledge of his or her limitations, should take lessons to become a paraglide. The laid-back ones who prefer others taking charge should hold onto parasailing. Both the activities are a great way to relax and unwind.

The first and foremost difference between parasailing and paragliding is that - Parasailing is for those who love the water but do not prefer extreme endeavors such as jet skiing or knee boarding. Paragliding on the other hand is for the light hearted.

You can paraglide nearly anywhere but mostly Para gliders choose open fields, exciting cliffs and mountain ranges for their intense scenery. Parasailing on the other hand is done on big water masses and sometimes on land as well all with the safety and security of a parachute.

In parasailing, you need a motorized vehicle and a canopy to make you airborne whereas in paragliding wings are controlled solely by the rider, who is technically a pilot.

Another obvious visible difference is that parasailing is a team effort while Paragliding can be done solo. Even the manner in which one is lifted off differs in parasailing and paragliding. In paragliding you are propelled by parachute if you're on land or a backpack if you have opted for powered paragliding.

Before you go parasailing all you need to do is take a few minutes of water safety lessons. However, in paragliding you need to take a few days training before you can go for a solo flight.

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10 Parasailing Facts You Didn't Know

Parasailing is a terrific and fun adventure sport. Choosing to do a parasailing adventure will be something you do not regret. This article discusses 10 parasailing facts that you didn't know.

• Parasailing is not considered a sport activity but more of a recreational activity. Intended to be a fun ride and not to be mixed up with the sport counterpart which is paragliding.

• Youngest Parasailer - Three year old Aditya Pratap Singh Chauhan is recorded to be the youngest to parasail for two minutes at Air Force Station Jammu, India in 2002.

• Oldest Parasailer - N.K. Mahajan in Lonavala, India. He was 88 years old when he did this feat. He is the oldest parasailer recorded in the Indian Limca Book of Records.

• A parasailing landing is usually done in water where the parasailer unhooks from the parasail and lands into the water. This process is called "splashdown".

• Parasailing was accidentally discovered in the 60's by Pierre Lamoigne who attached a parachute to his moving car to help his training for safe landings.
 
• There are 3 methods used in parasailing:
a) Beach parasailing. This method is considered the most dangerous of all three where the take off is from a beach front.
b) Platform Method. In this method the launch is similar to the beach method but steering instructions are not that necessary.
c) Winch boat parasailing. Considered the safest of all methods. Launch and recovery of the parasailer starts and ends on the boat deck.

• Winch Boat Parasailing is the most popular of all the parasailing methods. In this procedure, the parasailer does not land on water rather he returns to the launch point which is the boat's deck. A hydraulic winch is attached to the boat that allows the parasailer to be reeled back onto the boat. The world's first winch boat was tested under the supervision of Mark McCulloh in 1974 and was patented in October 26, 1976, then introduced commercially in the mid 80's.

• Ideal wind speed for parasailing is 12-27 MPH.
• Waterbird - the name of the first 16-gore canopy design made for the purpose of parasailing. Brian Gaskin designed, created and tested this revolutionary canopy design in early 1974 which allowed it to be used over water without much liquid absorption. Given the success of his creation, Gaskin founded his company a year after naming it Waterbird Parakites which is still in operation today.

• Mark Mculloh, Miami, Florida was one of the main contributors in parasailing. His inventions, innovations and accomplishments mostly focused on the improvement of parasailing safety through equipment design. To this day, his inventions have set the standards in parasailing safety by which a majority of parasailers follow. McCulloh also formed the "Parasail Safety Council" in 1998 to educate and influence people about parasailing safety.

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Parasailing Sites in the Philippines

The Philippines, which is known for its thrilling tourist attractions and colorful festivals, is slowly making a name for itself as a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. An emerging water recreational activity in the country is parasailing. With its rich water resources, the Philippines is an ideal place for this high-flying adventure.

Initially available in posh resorts in the Bahamas, Hawaii, Guam, and Australia, parasailing is steadily gaining more following in the Philippines due to its inclusion to various vacation packages by offered resort and vacation rental operators across the country.

Parasailing, which is also known as parascending, allows an individual to stay in the air for several minutes while strapped in nylon harnesses. A boat usually carries the parascender into the air. The sport appears difficult but experts insist that parasailing doesn't need any special skill other than sheer courage. Enjoying the high-adrenaline experience is one of the common tips shared by experts to beginners.

Here is a guide on where to find the best parasailing sites across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Mactan Island
Situated on the southeast of Cebu, Mactan is one of the leading parasailing destinations in the country. Most accommodations in the island entice tourists with their various water recreation facilities where you can go parasailing, jet skiing, scuba diving, and sailboating. While in the air, the parascender gets a fascinating view of the islands of Bohol, Sta. Rosa, Olango, and Cebu. Pristine beaches and rich marine resources have placed Mactan on the Philippine travel map.

Boracay Island
Parasailing adventures also await holidaymakers in Boracay, which is famous for its white sand beaches. A brave soul is treated with a bird's-eye-view of the whole island. While most resorts in Boracay arrange parasailing activities for their clients, tourists can also hire the services of hawkers who offer much lower prices. A 15-minute parasailing escapade in Boracay usually costs between Php 1,500 and Php 2,500. Parasailing allows tourists to get their energy flowing in enjoying various events and activities in Boracay.

Subic Bay
Another favorite parasailing site in the Philippines is the Subic Bay in Zambales. Since it is just a couple of hours away from Manila, most water adventurers in the metro quench their thirst for parasailing and other recreational activities in Subic. Parasailers get an unforgettable view of the Subic Bay and Grande Island. Other water activities in Subic include scuba and wreck diving, yachting, and kayaking.

Coron Island
The island paradise of Palawan has everything for every tourist, including parasailing. In Coron, a famous travel getaway in the province, one can enjoy a view of the island around 400 feet above the water. The island, which is also famous for its pleasant rock formations, is considered the best wreck diving site in the Philippines. Wreck dive sites are found in a depth as shallow as ten to 30 feet and as deep as 120 to 140 feet.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.

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The History of Parasailing

Pierre Lamoigne couldn't have known that he was making aviation sport history when in the early 1960's he attached a parachute to his moving car and invented parasailing. Lamoigne was a parachute teacher, and the easiest method then to teach the use of a parachute was to raise the "pilot" into the air to a certain height and then untie the parachute to let the pilot float free. People often confuse this method called parascending with hang gliding. But when Lamoigne did not release the parachute and pulled the pilot along in the air behind in a high-speed vehicle, parasailing truly began.

Higher standards for parasailing were set in the 1970s when a man named Mark McCulloh made history by using the parachutes at sea. He started first by raising parachutes from the shore but then went on to design a motorized platform, then a boat to pull the parachute back to the ship. These days there is even a specially designed ship with a built-in platform for take off and landing.

The Pioneer Parachute Company started making parachutes under the protected name of "Parasail" back in the 1960s after Lamoigne's first successes. Parasailing historically has enjoyed most of its popularity as an air and water sport, but there are now land-based parasailing competitions that are especially popular in Northern Europe and Finland. History was made again with the first international competitions being held in 2004.

Parasailing does not have to rely on competitions to be a popular sport. History shows that the thrill and excitement of being airborne has made the sport of parasailing very popular with families. But caution and good judgment should always be used, especially with the equipment and weather conditions for flying. Everyone should get training from a certified parasailing instructor before attempting a first flight.

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