Parasailing in the Gulf of Mexico

Parasailor Get More Than They Bargained For While Parasailing the Waters Off Anna Maria Island...

Gladly not all parasailing adventures are as exciting as the one experienced by the following Chicago family while vacationing in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Fortunately it had a happy ending and noone was hurt.

As reported in the Anna Maria Island Sun earlier this week, the Calacci family got more than the usual 15-minute parasail trip when high winds kept a father and son up in the air for more than three hours.

The wind speed at the nearest weather station at Sarasota International Airport was nine miles an hour at that time, but shortly after Mike Calacci and his son, Alex, were launched into the air, winds had whipped up and whitecaps were rolling in, with the weather station recording wind gusts up to 32 miles per hour.

The parachute hung in the same place for several hours with the boat apparently anchored, according to lifeguards. A second boat attempted a rescue by attaching a rope to the vertical line and pulling it down with the force of the boat’s forward motion.

When the floating pair was within 15 feet of the water, Mike Calacci considered unhooking himself and his son from the parachute and dropping into the Gulf, he said. Fortunately, they were unable to work the latches because the wind gusted, a rope snapped, and the pair shot back up into the air.

"They almost rescued them," said son Lou Calacci, who watched from the boat.

While Alex dangled in the parachute, he grew ill and vomited. His dad tried to persuade him to close his eyes to stop the seasickness.

To pass the time and stay calm, "I tried to nap," but wasn’t able to, said the father of four. "The harness was too uncomfortable."

Down on the boat, the rest of the family watched anxiously, wishing the pair had a cell phone with them. "We sang and prayed," said mom Tina Calacci, shaking her head as she described the crew’s discussion of the "last resort" – cutting the line and setting them adrift.

When the wind finally did begin to subside, the two crewmen were able to bring the parachute and the pair safely back down to the boat.

"I don’t know when I’ve ever been happier," said a slightly shaken and sunburned Mike Calacci, adding that he intended to go back to their rental condo and lie down.

"I’m still a little seasick," said his son, Adam, holding a souvenir piece of the tow rope.

According to Fun & Sun co-owner Karen Archer, "We had it under control",  adding that the company was in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the incident.

According to the Coast Guard, they did not send help because the parasail company felt comfortable that it could handle the situation, and "It was not quite a life or death situation," said Petty Officer Robert Simpson.

"I don’t know what we would have done," he said, adding that the agency was communicating with the vessel by radio in case the situation escalated.

Tips for Parasailors:

1. Parasail only with an established company that has a business license, insurance and a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain.

2. Do not parasail in winds over 18 knots, rain, fog or an approaching storm.

3. Do not parasail higher than 600 feet.

4. Do not exceed recommended passenger weight restrictions.

5. Ask for a safety briefing prior to your flight, including a description of the activity, equipment operation, safety procedures, hand signals and evacuation procedures during a water landing, fire or other emergency.