Parasail on Clearwater Beach vacation

Parasailing, also known as parascending, or "parakiting" is a recreational kiting activity where a person is towed behind a vehicle (usually a boat) while attached to a specially designed canopy wing that reminds one of a parachute, known as a parasail wing. On land or over water the manned kite's moving anchor may be a car, truck, or boat; parasailing just by kiting in heavy winds is highly discouraged. The boat then drives off, carrying the parascender or wing and person into the air. If the boat is powerful enough, two or three people can parasail behind it at the same time. The parascender has little or no control over the parachute.

There are six parts of a parasail. The harness attaches the pilot to the parasail, which is connected to the boat, or land vehicle, by the tow rope. The activity is primarily a fun ride, not to be confused with the sport of paragliding. There are commercial parasailing operations all over the world.
Land based parasailing has also been formed into competition sport in Europe. In land based competition parasailing, the parasail is towed to maximum height behind a 4 wheel drive vehicle and then releases the tow line and flies down to a target area in an accuracy competition. The sport was developed in the early 80's and has been very popular ever since. The first international competitions were held in the mid 80's and continue to run today.
1. Have ground assistants check the rig and flight harness on the parasailor before takeoff. Then ground assistants take their positions holding open opposite sides of the sail.
2. Signal the boat driver to go. 
3. Instruct the boat driver to begin slowly accelerating to take up the slack line while ground assistants and the parasailor move forward with the rope. Assistants hold the guidelines to help the sail fill up with air.
4. The parasailor should take a few long strides with the rope taut, but not aid in the liftoff process by jumping or pulling up his or her feet. The canopy will do this on its own.
5. Steer the parasail by pulling down on risers on the side of the desired direction. No steering should actually ever be necessary.
6. Direct the pick-up boat to trail 200 feet behind the parasailor.
7. Release the safety pin to allow the parasailor to float gently down into the water at either a high or low altitude.
8. Pick up the parasailor and equipment in the safety boat and return to shore to launch again.
Tips & Warnings
1. Ground assistants must hold the guidelines evenly or the parasail will take off in a diagonal direction.
2. Do not parasail in winds stronger than 15 mph.
3. If the parasail rotates more than 45 degrees in the air, the safety pin should be pulled before the canopy can spill its air and drop the sailor.
4. The parasailor must wear a life vest, as the harness is too heavy to swim in.
5. Parasailing is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.
Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Parasail-on-Clearwater-Beach-vacation/5766650/

The Best Goa Beaches for Water Sports

Goa tourism probably does not need any introduction. In fact, Goa is undoubtedly one of the leading holiday destinations in the country for both locals as well as foreigners. Travelers flock to Goa to experience few days of complete bliss and relaxation without having to worry about anything else. There is another sect of people who go to Goa only to party and have a crazy time. The only one thing in both their agendas is to have a really good time.

Goa is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches so yes heading to a beach is the first priority, however, the second most important priority is to decide on the various water sports. Whether it is parasailing, jet skiing, banana boat ride, canoeing or winch-boat parasailing - Beaches in Goa are a paradise for water sport enthusiasts. It is ensured that professionals manage the water sports so that tourists can enjoy them without having to worry about their safety.

That's not all; Goa tourism also ensures that water sports are conducted only when the weather permits. For instance, during the monsoon months, tourists are barred from indulging in any kind of water sport, while during the peak holiday season when weather is good, people are seen spending most of their time in the water or up in the air parasailing. So, as far as safety goes you can put your mind at ease. However, one should diligently follow the instructions given by the operators.

Following is a brief list of the various water sports available across the beaches in Goa.

Parasailing: Parasailing offers an exhilarating experience and you can never get enough of it. The experience of literally hanging from a parachute and with the sea beneath you is definitely thrilling. There are two options under para sailing - beach parasailing and winch boat parasailing. In the beach parasailing the person is made to land on the beach while in the winch boat parasailing, the person lands on a winch boat. Sinquerim-Candolim-Calangute Stretch is quite popular for parasailing.

Jet Skiing: Those who love speed and are adrenaline junkies will find Jet Skiing extremely thrilling and adventurous. Accompanied by an instructor, a person gets to ride on strong waves in high-powered jet skis. Some of the beaches in Goa where this sport can be enjoyed include Candolim, Colva, Mobor, Benaulim, Calangute and Arossim.

Scuba Diving: Goa is one of the few places that offer amazing opportunities for scuba diving. St. George Island, Pigeon Island, Grande Islands and Devagh Island are some of the places to enjoy this fascinating sport. Bagmalo Beach is the ideal place for beginners where one can learn this sport as well.

Wind Surfing: This is one of the most challenging and toughest sports and meant for those who are daring enough to take on the challenge. There are training schools that conduct short courses on wind surfing and the best season to enjoy this sport is between January and March. Some of the beaches in Goa where windsurfing can be enjoyed include Colva, Calangute, Baga, Vagator, Palolem, Miramar and Dona Paula.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7961272