A hot summer’s day is too easily spoilt by spending it in its entirety on terra firma. Why not take to the air, attached to ropes and boats, parachutes and harnesses? Nothing novel in that idea considering an adventurous fellow by the name of Pierre Lamoigne did the very same thing back in the early 1960’s. Only Mr. Lamoigne attached a parachute to his moving car...
Parasailing in the Arabian Gulf. SONY DSC-W50. f/7.1; Exposure 1/250sec; ISO-80
Lamoigne was a parachute teacher, and the easiest method then to teach the use of a parachute was to raise the “pilot” into the air to a certain height and then untie the parachute to let the pilot float free. But when Lamoigne did not release the parachute and pulled the pilot along in the air behind in a high-speed vehicle, parasailing truly began.
Skimming the Surface-Arabian Gulf. SONY DSC-W50 f/4.5; Exposure 1/500sec; ISO-80
By the 1970s the natural pairing of parasailing and seaside was contrived, when Mark McCulloh used parachutes at sea. He started first by raising parachutes from the shore and then went on to design a motorized platform, then a boat to pull the parachute back to the ship.
Up in the Air. Dubai Coastline. SONY DSC-W50. f/7.1; Exposure 1/320sec; ISO-80
Parasailing requires some special equipment in order for it to be performed properly and safely. A boat that has at least 90 horsepower is necessary. The parasail canopy, parachute, a body harness or double harness if the intent is to take up more than one punter at a time, and a towline are required. Weather plays a role as well because a wind speed of 12 mph to 27 mph is recommended. You’ve got to get air-borne, after all!
Parasailing Freedom. SONY DSC-W50. f/4.5; Exposure 1/400sec; ISO-80
Tempted? Well there are three ways you can parasail. Firstly, starting from shore, you takes a few steps in the water before being lifted up by the parachute. The landing normally takes place in the water. Next is platform-to-sea parasailing, whereby you start off taking a few steps in the water but you can land on the platform should you wish. Finally, sail away from a boat or ship platform. This is the most common and safest way to parasail. You sit on the platform and hooked onto the open parachute. A winch then lifts the parachute. Before you know it, its a bird’s eye view for you. Once done with the flight, you land on the boat or ship platform. Go on, then; parasail away!
Parasailing Elation. SONY DSC-W50. f/7.1; Exposure 1/200sec; ISO-80
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