It’s a common theme; wind and parasailing. It seems to be when the wind is blowing inland that everyone wants to run out and go parasailing. But there has to be a limit to the wind speed, right? Can you even go parasailing when it’s windy?
Parasailing needs wind to be successful, but there is such a thing as too much wind for parasailing. You should not go parasailing if the average wind is above 15 miles per hour and if the gusts are above 20 miles per hour. Most importantly make sure you follow the parasailing canopy manufacturer’s wind speed recommendations.
Understanding the risks of parasailing in windy weather is essential but knowing how much is too much will help prevent unnecessary accidents. Let’s dive into this a little deeper, so I can explain some of this for you.
How Much Wind is too Much Wind for Parasailing?
No one should be parasailing if the sustained wind is above 15 miles per hour or the wind gusts exceed 20 miles per hour. Sustained wind means the average wind speed for the last 2 minutes, while gusts are self explanatory they are sudden blasts of wind that are calculated within seconds of time.
Furthermore, if the wind gusts are 10 mph more than the sustained windspeeds, this can cause the parasailers to be bounced around a bit, increasing the risk of accident and potential injury. Therefore, all parasailing should stop until the wind dies down to safe speeds.
| Type of Wind | Safe Wind Amount | Dangerous Wind Amount |
| Sustained Wind | 1-15 MPH | 15 MPH or more |
| Wind Gusts | 1-20 MPH | 20 MPH or more. Gusts should not be 10 MPH more than sustained wind speed. |
Why is It Dangerous to Parasail in High Winds?
High winds are dangerous to parasail in because it increases the risk of serious accidents (PDF), such as the towlines snapping, parasailers being yanked around, deflation of the parasail, and more.
Tour companies should only send people up during good weather. If the weather happens suddenly, the crew should quickly but steadily winch the person on the parasail back to safety.
How Do Parasail Tour Guides Know When it’s too Windy?
Captains and crew members are constantly monitoring ether conditions using the news, doppler radars, anemometer, and their windspeed gauge. This helps tour guides to know when it might be too windy to parasail and when to call it quits.
Some experts can just feel the wind and know if it is too windy, this is simply because they have been doing it for years. Of course, they still use equipment to confirm.
What Happens to Your Parasailing Booking if it Gets Cancelled Due to Wind?
If your booking gets canceled due to bad weather, you will likely be refunded 100% of your ticket price. The cancellation will be determined by your captain. If possible, the tour company will try their best to reschedule you based on your availability.
Keep in mind that if you paid with your banking card or credit card, it could take 7 to 10 business days to see that refund show up in your account.
What Happens If the Wind Picks Up During Your Parasailing Session?
If the wind picks up during your session, the crew will bring you in as soon as possible. If you cannot continue your session later that day, you may be eligible for a full refund.
However, this is entirely up to the company where you booked your parasailing adventure. For example, some companies will state if you got 25 minutes out of 30, you would not receive a refund, and others will offer a partial refund or a discount on your next booking.
It’s essential to read the fine print and ask any questions you may have in the beginning. That way, you know what to expect if you, unfortunately, fall into this situation.
When Parasailing Can You Feel the Wind?
What I found interesting when parasailing is that I felt the wind more so while in the boat than in the air. On the boat, the wind was constantly blowing in my face and hair. However, when I was 500 feet up, it was easy to breathe, and I would experience gusts of wind in my face.
The gusts of wind made it a little harder to breathe. So, what I did my next time, was I wore a plastic covid mask over my nose and mouth, which helped block the wind from forcing itself into my lungs.
Keep in mind that this is more common on windy days. The times that I went when the wind was calm, I had no problems breathing whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
There is such a thing as too much wind when flying through the air on a parasail. Your safety in parasailing depends on the knowledge of the tour company you book with, the gear you are using, and the weather.
If the wind picks up faster than 15-20 miles per hour, you will be reeled back in if you are on the parasail. Or, your ride will be canceled, and your total amount will be refunded. Wait until a more fabulous day to rebook and try again! As frustrating as this is, know that it is for your safety!
Read some of my related parasailing articles:
- Can You Parasail In The Rain?
- Is Parasailing Safe for Non-Swimmers?
- What Is Tandem Parasailing? (The Ultimate Guide)
When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.