Tara Clydesdale, 33, works on Bonita Beach but she doesn’t sell hot dogs or set up rental chairs.
She thrills beachgoers and brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “on cloud nine” as a crew member of the Paragazm.
The vessel is equipped to send parasailers as far as 1,200 feet in the air using a harness and colorful parachute that can be seen for miles in the sky.
Clydesdale works for the Bonita Jetski and Parasail, Inc. based out of Doc’s Beach House on Bonita Beach.
Although she has only been on the job since February, people have been “flying” over the Bonita Beach and Vanderbilt Beach coastline for 17 years.
“It’s a beautiful view from up there,” said Clydesdale, who sets up the parachute and straps people into a harness that feels much like a swing. “People always ask all sorts of questions about wind conditions and how long the captain has been in the business.”
Paragazm Captain Lonnie Clark is a parasailing expert who has been in the business for 22 years.
“I don’t mind the questions but if they ask too many I say I charge a dollar a question,” said Clydesdale, of Cape Coral, jokingly.
But the questions are customary in a recreational sport where people worry about their safety although Clark would never put anybody in the air unless the conditions were just right.
“It’s a safe sport. There are wind concerns but people can still have fun and not worry about anything,” Clark said.
The adventure begins on Bonita Beach where people take a short boat ride to the Paragazm. Once there people are strapped into a harness and life jacket.
The parachute is then lifted into the air until it fills up with air.
“It’s similar to a hot air balloon and it’s quiet and a very mellow experience,” said Gene Sarazen, the parasailing manager.
On average, Sarazen sees about 3,000 people parasail every year. “We have the most experienced captain in the country let alone the state,” he said.
Having the experience is important especially as riders sit on the back of the boat completely strapped in and realize they are about to get a breathtaking view of Bonita Beach.
“People often ask ‘What if I fall out? What if the rope breaks?’” Clydesdale said.
She reassures people by telling them that the only dangers of flying are winds and old equipment. The flights are 10 minutes long and up to three riders can go at one time barring weight restrictions.
“It’s safe as long as you aren’t flying in bad weather. Everything we do is affected by the wind,” she said.
Once in the air, riders get a sensation of flying and can feel the slight shifts in the wind as the boat pulls them near the coast and back out to the ocean again.
Apart from seeing beachgoers as ants from the air, riders may see fish, manatees, dolphins and birds.
As a bonus Clark times the landing so that riders take a small dip in the ocean before landing on the back of the Paragazm.
“It’s totally safe and people always have a great time up there,” Clydesdale said. “It’s a great activity.”
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