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PARASAILING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In the 11 years we successfully and safely operated a parasailing business in the UK there were a number of questions we were asked many times over.
Are there any age limits for parasailing?
We generally did not fly anyone under the age of 11 unless they were accompanied in the parachute by an adult. Even with an adult we set a minimum age limit of 8 years old, however some operators may be prepared to fly children younger than this if a parent or responsible adult gives their consent. Another point to take into consideration is that many children under the age of 11 are not heavy enough to safely fly alone. (See next question about weight limits for more information).
As far as upper age limits are concerned, that very much depends on insurance. For this reason we were generally unable to fly many people over the age of 70.
What is the weight limit for parasailing?
The weight limits for each parasailor varies between operators simply because the weight limit is dictated by the size of the parachute used. We used two different types of parachute and we alternated between them depending on the weight of the parasailor. There was only one instance when we had to refuse to fly someone on weight grounds.
You may find that some commercial operators offer you the chance to fly on larger parachutes than the ones we used. Some will use what is known as a double parasail bar, which enables two people to fly alongside of each other.
Any responsible operator who has any doubts will ask you to state your weight prior to flying (no matter how much of a sensitive subject this can be!) When offering tandem flights it should be a matter of course that you have to state your combined weight, as this is even more difficult for the operator to gauge.
Do I need any special training to go parasailing?
No training is required but you should expect to be given a safety brief by your operator prior to flying to cover what to do in case of an emergency.
What happens if the boat breaks down whilst I am in the air?
The beauty of a purpose built parasailing boat is the boat's engine and the winch’s engine (which controls you whilst you are in the air) run separately from each other. Generally speaking the worst that can happen is you would end up gently floating down into the water. All reputable operators should have a disaster plan in place in the unlikely event of this happening.
What happens if I am frightened and want you to bring me back down?
Before flying any reputable operator will make it clear to you what signal you are required to give if you feel frightened whilst in the air and you want to return to the boat. As customers were understandably wary about letting go of the ropes of the parachute whilst airborne, we used to ask them to repeatedly move one leg to one side if they wanted to return to the boat.
How high in the air will I go?
You can expect to fly between 200 and 300 feet in the air. You will certainly fly high enough for a bird's eye view of the surrounding area.
What happens if I land in the water?
Because we were operating on the muddy cold River Humber in the UK, not in a warm sunny holiday resort the idea of landing in the water was not appealing to most of our customers. However for safety reasons, it is sometimes the only option. In the whole of the 11 years we were in operation we only had to do it on two occasions. Once again it is down to the skill of the operator, but if required, the landing in the water should be a gentle one.
Is parasailing a scary experience?
Probably the two expressions most commonly used by our customers to describe their parasailing experience were exhilarating and adrenaline rush. This comes as no surprise. As all parasailing operators have to use very fast boats to enable them to pick up enough speed to inflate and keep the parachute safely in the air. Quite often the boat trip alone is an exhilarating experience in itself.
However what you may be surprised to learn is that the another commonly used word to describe the actual time in the air was ’peaceful’. You take off from the sitting position from the boat’s platform, as shown on this page, and you are gently winched out higher and higher into the air. Once you are fully airborne there is something strangely serene about the fact that all you can hear and feel is the rush of the wind. To end, you are gently winched back down to the boat’s platform, and in most cases landing down is similar to stepping off the bottom stair of an escalator.
Have a look at our customer comments page to find out more about what people felt.
What clothes should I wear to go parasailing?
This is largely dictated by the weather conditions. You will be provided with the necessary safety clothing by the operator. No matter what the temperature is, sensible footwear is always a good idea.
Can you go parasailing if you are pregnant?
For insurance and health and safety purposes, pregnant ladies are not allowed to fly.
How long do you stay in the air?
Once you leave the flight deck you tend to lose all sense of space and time but you can expect to be airborne for around 8 to 10 minutes.
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