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Is Parasailing Safe?

With vacation season coming fast, many Clarksvillians will be planning to head to the beach. Maritime Safety Expert Mario Vittone takes a look at the popular oceanside pastime of parasailing.

I’ve never done it, but it was on my list.  Parasailing; it just looks like fun, doesn’t it?  After spending most of my life evaluating what is safe or going after people who weren’t, hanging from a parachute high above the water seemed like a great way to have fun.

The view has to be awesome; they make you wear a life jacket so that is covered; and you’re in a parachute for goodness sake.

If anything happens, you just float down to the water and wait for them to pick you up, right? Well, maybe…but that depends…on a lot.

Since 2006, in the U.S. alone, there have been 8 deaths and 38 injuries associated with para-sailing. Personally, I blame the name; “Parasailing” – it even sounds soft…sailing and parachuting, gliding through the air, adrift.  But that is not what is happening.

At the most basic level, parasailing is strapping yourself to a massive object (the chute) that harnesses the power of the wind to pull you in one direction, while an engine with hundreds of horsepower tries to pull you in the opposite direction.  Now – being the”Pivot-point-in-a-high-intesnity-high-altitude-tug-of-war” doesn’t sound as nice as going parasailing, so they don’t call it that; but that is what it is.  There is an engine trying to pull you one way while mother nature fights to pull you the other way while tied together with a relatively thin line.

Most cases of injury or death associated with parasailing occur when the towline breaks.  In a Marine Safety Alert released a couple of years ago, the U.S. Coast Guard stated “Failures occur significantly below the rated towline strengths due to a variety of reasons that may include cyclic loading, long term exposure to environmental elements, the presence of knots, and overloading.”  As wind speeds double, the load on the line can quadruple and these lines are exposed to saltwater and sunlight which weaken them a little with every use.

Now I know you think that you will just drift down to the water and wait for that ride, but consider that the big parachute is still attached (to you) and can drag you across the surface of the water and into a pier, or drag you down the beach and into a fixed object, or into one of those nice hotels you were looking at before everything came undone.  And just because life jackets are worn, doesn’t mean that drowning is impossible. You may hit the water and be completely wrapped up in shroud lines and canopy.

All these variables can be covered – and some operators try to cover them – but they often are left in the “What are the chances?” box and operators simply hope they don’t happen.  They hope the line doesn’t break and they hope that if it does, the canopy doesn’t collapse on top of you or drag you towards the beach.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LZqeyHeerE[/youtube]

Many people believe, as I did, that the gear they use must be inspected and regulated, but it is not.  While some states have guidelines and standards – no one is coming out on a regular basis and inspecting the tow-line and winch to make sure everything is up to standards.  That’s because there are no standards.  The U.S. Coast Guard may inspect the boat (for parasail boats that carry more than 6 passengers) but they do NOT inspect the parasailing gear.  That task is left completely up to the owner.

The parachutes likely aren’t being cleaned and dried out of the sunlight (that weakens them); the harnesses and chairs that they strap passengers in (400-800 feet above the water in some cases) aren’t being routinely load tested and certified; the lines are weakened with every use and there is no way to know how often (or not) they are being replaced; and the industry itself has been unable to agree on standards for operating though they have tried.

I believe that parasailing can be safe – and I believe that most of the time, it is. But real safety comes with standards and regulatory inspections. Why do I think that? Because that is how we got safe everywhere else.  Until that happens, I’m leaving this one boating activity off my list.

Author’s Note: Of course – there have been millions of parasailing rides with a fraction of them resulting in injury or death.  I’m just waiting for a reasonably enforceable standard and inspection (like that certificate in the elevator) that lets me know that someone – besides the guy selling me the ride – is looking out for the things I can’t (tow lines, hydraulics, harnesses.)  And also that the operator has been trained to handle emergencies and conditions relating to the activity (like dive masters.)

Editor’s Note: This article was first published by Mario Vittone on his web site in May 2012, all stats used are from that date. Video’s in this Article Courtesy of ABC World News Tonight, and The Travel Channel.

Marine Safety Alert

Know your ROPES – Parasailing Operations

Marine Safety Alert 05-11
Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, United States Coast Guard

U.S. Coast GuardWashington, DC  (September 20, 2011 ) – A series of parasail incidents resulting in fatalities and injuries have occurred over the last few years. Several marine casualty investigations are ongoing and some are near completion. Common causal factors are being identified in addition to causal factors that are unique to a specific event. The Coast Guard believes that communication of known issues is essential in minimizing potential future casualties and strongly reminds parasail operators and those associated with the business of the following:

Remember that most parasail fatalities and injuries are related to the failure of the towline. Failures occur significantly below the rated towline strengths due to a variety of reasons that may include cyclic loading, long term exposure to environmental elements, the presence of knots, and overloading.

Observe and monitor weather conditions continuously. Most frequently increases in wind speed impact the relative speed against the chute and cause the overloading. As the wind speed doubles the load on the towline may quadruple. Monitor your VHF radio weather channel and learn to interpret the effect of wind speed on the water surface. Note the formation of squalls, thunderstorms, or when larger weather fronts are expected to pass through your operational area. Cease operations well before such weather features impact your operation.

Prepare for emergencies by having well documented procedures applicable to a variety of circumstances, normal operations and emergencies such as towline breaks, winch failures, propulsion failures, and other concerns that can impact your own or your passenger’s safety. Regularly perform drills to ensure expert proficiencies in accomplishing all emergency or routine procedures.

Ensure that all of your equipment is properly maintained on a continuing basis. This includes the winch, and drive motor, hydraulic brakes, hoses and piping, spooling systems, and other tackle. Also check your chute, harness, and related components for stitching failures, degradation, and the need for general repairs. Immediately repair and correct identified problems.

Safety is up to you the Operator. The Coast Guard does not regulate or inspect parasail equipment or regulate parasail operations.

The Coast Guard recognizes that there are many other issues associated with this sport and encourages owners and operators to work with each other and related industry associations to share best practices and develop safe operational standards to minimize potential injuries and deaths. Coast Guard Licensed Operators are expected to provide an adequate level of care during vessel operations. Administrative action may be taken against the operator if his or her unsafe actions or decisions lead to a casualty.

This alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or international requirements. Developed by the Office of Investigations and Analysis, USCG Headquarters, Washington, DC.

Office of Investigations and Analysis: http://marineinvestigations.us

To subscribe email: Kenneth.W.Olsen@uscg.mil

Mario Vittone
Mario Vittonehttp://mariovittone.com/
Mario Vittone has twenty-one years of combined service  in the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. His writing on maritime safety has appeared in Yachting,  Salt Water Sportsman, MotorBoating, gCaptain, On Scene, Lifelines,  and Reader's Digest. He has lectured extensively on topics ranging from leadership and innovation to sea survival  and immersion hypothermia. Mario worked as an Aviation Survival Technician and  Helicopter Rescue Swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard  in New Orleans, LA and Elizabeth City, NC, flying on  hundreds of search and rescue cases. He is currently working as a Marine Safety Specialist with Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads in Norfolk, VA. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Coast Guard.
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