Parasailing - riding in a harness attached to a parachute and going up in the air instead of coming down.
It's a great way to see the area as you sail around the bay behind a speed boat, however getting up is not as simple as strapping the harness on and hoping that the boat goes fast enough to keep you up.
Stage 1. Negotiating the price
Most things are easily negotiable in Mexico the rest take perseverance. The man on the beach, that sells the ride will tell you a price and you should counter with a lower offer. This week, especially if you were the first he will give you his spiel. "Normally Senor, it is is $45 but today for you I can take it to $35, I don't do commissions and I have to pay for my family!" It should be noted that the previous day the start price was $50 the customer had to ask the hotel to intervene as the hotel had told him it was $45.
Stage 2. the waiver
This piece of paper is something that the beach crew get you, or your companion to sign. Theoretically it is to protect the crew from lawsuits if you crash. But like all waivers it is probably not worth the paper it is signed on. However no sign - no fly!
Stage 3. ground operations
As you strap the harness on, leg straps and a shoulder harness with a seat that hangs down behind you as you stand, the crew is telling you about the commands you have to obey to get back down. In order for the parachute to rise it must be pulled at a speed that will cause lift. As you come down the boat slows and you lose lift and come down. But there usually is a prevailing wind that cause you to blow offline. So you, the rider, must steer it as you drop. Pulling on the ropes, either left or right will tilt the canopy and move left or right from the dropline. The crew on the ground will see you coming in as the boat slows and you drop. They will blow whistles and you then have to pull the left side ropes to ensure that you swing into the drop position. If you panic and "freeze" the ground crew will signal the boat to drop you in the sea. Asked if this happens, the crew chief smiles and answers, "Sometimes Senor!"
Stage 3 Mission accomplished
If you have obeyed the instructions you will drop at a leisurely rate and the ground crew will stabilize you as you land on the beach. The landing is as fast as a drop from about four feet - not much of a bump! What a ride, some may compare it to flying a plane - takeoff and landings are the only tricky parts. But although the ride may be a matter of just sitting in a harness six hundred feet off the ground and over the sea the view is fantastic.
Scroll down for parasail pics
It's a great way to see the area as you sail around the bay behind a speed boat, however getting up is not as simple as strapping the harness on and hoping that the boat goes fast enough to keep you up.
Stage 1. Negotiating the price
Most things are easily negotiable in Mexico the rest take perseverance. The man on the beach, that sells the ride will tell you a price and you should counter with a lower offer. This week, especially if you were the first he will give you his spiel. "Normally Senor, it is is $45 but today for you I can take it to $35, I don't do commissions and I have to pay for my family!" It should be noted that the previous day the start price was $50 the customer had to ask the hotel to intervene as the hotel had told him it was $45.
Stage 2. the waiver
This piece of paper is something that the beach crew get you, or your companion to sign. Theoretically it is to protect the crew from lawsuits if you crash. But like all waivers it is probably not worth the paper it is signed on. However no sign - no fly!
Stage 3. ground operations
As you strap the harness on, leg straps and a shoulder harness with a seat that hangs down behind you as you stand, the crew is telling you about the commands you have to obey to get back down. In order for the parachute to rise it must be pulled at a speed that will cause lift. As you come down the boat slows and you lose lift and come down. But there usually is a prevailing wind that cause you to blow offline. So you, the rider, must steer it as you drop. Pulling on the ropes, either left or right will tilt the canopy and move left or right from the dropline. The crew on the ground will see you coming in as the boat slows and you drop. They will blow whistles and you then have to pull the left side ropes to ensure that you swing into the drop position. If you panic and "freeze" the ground crew will signal the boat to drop you in the sea. Asked if this happens, the crew chief smiles and answers, "Sometimes Senor!"
Stage 3 Mission accomplished
If you have obeyed the instructions you will drop at a leisurely rate and the ground crew will stabilize you as you land on the beach. The landing is as fast as a drop from about four feet - not much of a bump! What a ride, some may compare it to flying a plane - takeoff and landings are the only tricky parts. But although the ride may be a matter of just sitting in a harness six hundred feet off the ground and over the sea the view is fantastic.
Scroll down for parasail pics
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A vendor waiting for customers. The sails advertise beer - what else! |
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A 'sailor waiting to go up, the wind is filling the sail, and being told how to make the sail go. |
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Almost
there! |
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Liftoff |
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