|
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 didn’t 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 actually heavy enough to 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.
You may find that some commercial operators offer you the chance to fly on even 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 engine that controls you whilst you’re 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.
|
