Parasailing

Parasailing is a term that has been in use since the mid-1970s for flying with a steerable parachute behind a vehicle, especially a boat. A special parachute is used in which nozzle- or flap-like openings are incorporated at its rear lower side to provide the necessary lift.

The origins lie in the idea of transporting a skydiver into the air in a way other than by an aircraft. First attempts were made with a winch and then also with a passenger car. At the summit the pilot was released and could then fly independently. In the field of gliding this has been practiced for a very long time using a winch. After the first attempts with a winch and a land vehicle, the idea was born to try it behind a boat on the much less dangerous water.

Without being able to substantiate this, various Internet sites report independently of each other about tests in the 1960s on pulled parachutes in France, Great Britain and the USA. An exact historical record is not yet available. Some reports are questionable, as the closed round canopy parachutes allegedly used cannot climb by pulling, as no lift is generated. The parachute would open and drag across the ground.

In the summer of 1978, commercial flights with a hang glider (kite) behind a boat were offered on the Lago di Caldonazzo in northern Italy by the local water ski school. However, due to the extremely difficult handling of towed kites, especially for beginners, there were frequent crashes and the offer was discontinued again.

A modern parasail parachute is a round parachute whose direction can be influenced by the pilot to the right and left. The towed pilot is attached to the parachute system with a harness. Normally, the pilot's attachment can be released ad hoc by means of a pull nipple in case of danger. The lines are between 30 and 100 m long. The physical conditions require that at least one third of the line hangs down in an arc due to the weight, so that the height of the glider is about two thirds of the line length.

In rare cases, also fixed wing parachutes are used, which however cause problems for beginners due to their relatively high instability in the air compared to round parachutes.

On land, there is also the possibility of being towed by a towing vehicle. Due to the higher risk of accidents, this is rarely practiced.

Depending on the size of the parasail parachute used, single persons or several persons can be pulled. The launch is from the beach, a jetty or a platform.

After tightening the line and opening the glider, the pilot has to run along for a few meters and is then immediately pulled up into the air.

The towing boat should have a mass of more than 500 kg and an engine power of at least 80 kW.

In the professional sector, specially built boats are used. On these boats there is a platform for launching and landing, a frame for holding the glider and an electric winch for launching or recovering the pilot with the glider.

Parasailing is now also offered as a recreational sport at some busier resorts.