Parasailing

[Rafferty]

Im off on holiday in a month,and im interested in going "parasailing" (i think thats waht its called, when you're attatched to the back of the boat in a parachute :s). Firstly, has anyone done it and is it good? And secondly, is it considered an extreme sport? and therefore I would have to get different insurance?

thank yoooou

[ACB312]

I've done this in Tenerife and it is good fun. Shop around to get the best price though - don't buy from a holiday rep, you may be able to find an agency/shop in town centre ar even speak to the crew on the boat for a price. I don't know about the insurance aspect. Cheers, Andy

[rojash]

I tried it in Corfu and found it uncomfortable and boring - but it was one week after I'd done my first parachute jump, so maybe I needed something with more of a kick.

[n00dles]

Hi Rafferty,

Go for it!!

When we went to Cyprus, I said to my husband that I was going to go Paragliding (something I had always wished to do). He just laughed and said that I couldn't even swim, so thought I would bottle out because I might fall in the sea.....
However, on the stretch of beach linked to our hotel, there was a company running trips out to a pontoon, which was the launch pad for their paragliding. My husband insisted I wore a lifejacket(!) being a non-swimmer. On the pontoon they briefed you on what would happen/what to do etc.
Stepped into a harness, (parachute behind) which was linked to the motor boat. Boat powered up and away I went - into the air, exillerating!! Did a whole circuit around the bay, then on return to pontoon they would cut the engine so you drifted gently down and dipped your toes in the sea! Powered up again, (flying) and safely deposited on to pontoon, where a guy would throw some kind of lever to 'snatch' the tow rope to release you from boat link.

Well, my husband straight away said if you can do it so can I!! Although he hadn't planned to go up (pre-paid on beach), they said it was OK that he could pay later.

We used to go up every day am and pm! Got on so well with the guys that ran it (sshh gave us discount) we would take it in turns to go in the speed boat with them whilst operating the gliding.

With health and safety issues (now more than ever) I guess its worth checking if it is classed as extreme.......

As advised, shop around for best deal....we didn't have that problem where we were, the outfit we used could not have been better, maybe we were lucky!!

You'll kick yourself if you don't at least give it a try!

[IggyB]

its not considered an extreme sport to most people but some insurance polices do class it as extreme and thus not cover it - just make sure you read the small print before getting insurance or just ask the seller.

i have done it once and while it was nice i did get a little bored doing it - but its quite nice floating around in the sun for a bit