Although
I have yet to ride in an airplane, I have gone parasailing two times on
separate occasions at the shorelines of Panama City Beach in Florida. I went
once during my senior year in high school and another time a few years before
then.
The
parasail is basically just a parachute, but it is kept up in the air via an
attachment to a moving object down below. One of the first uses of parasailing
was by the astronaut Thomas Stafford in 1965 to train for a space mission. Parasailing
has been done by way of a car in the past, but today, parasailing is typically
done using a speed boat
Parasailing,
for those who might not have gone, involves a parachute that is lifted into the
air by a rope tied to a speed boat. Both times I have went, we first got to the
speed boat by what they called a “banana boat,” – which is really just a long
air filled tube with several seats, tied to the back of a ski jet. Not only is
parasailing fun, but riding the banana boat to and from the speed boat and shore
is a journey in itself because it can be a bumping ride against the waves (i.e.
hold on tight)! After reaching the speed boat, passengers are strapped into a
harness attached to the parachute and the rope. As the boat speeds up, they
start lengthening the rope until the parasail is high in the sky. My
parasailing adventures both included a good length of time up in the air, which
is an interesting way to get a different view of the beach and ocean. My
recommendations for anyone thinking about parasailing next time they are at the
beach, try to do it on a cloudy day so the sun isn’t
beating on you the whole ride – you will find it much more comfortable!
Reference
[1] “Stunning Parasail History Timeline from
1961-1999.” Parasail Safety Council Website. Mark McCulloh. 2013. Web. 1
February 2014. < http://www.parasail.org/parasailhistory-1970s.html>
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