I have tried flying small parafoil kites from a kayak with out much success. I had trouble getting them flying. It seemed I blocked the wind with my body so that the kite didnt fill properly. I found it problematic too when the kite took a nose dive into the water, retreiving it was difficult. I am no expert in kite flying...let alone Parafoils, but i was able to fly them on the beach.

Using a reel is a good idea in that it will leave your hands free to manage the kite.

I have had good luck with an umbrella though, much easier to deal with. In a double or single with a rudder hand holding it moves the boat along nicely. As many umbrellas have a hook shaped handle, it can easily be hooked into the deck lines or cockpit combing to save your arms. It stowes under the deck lines.

--eric

oes anyone have any experience using a parafoil sail when kayaking? What are
: your experiences etc.?I finished my Pygmy triple last summer and really
: enjoy it. We generally use it as a double or single. I want to run the
: attachment line from the front of the forward cockpit, but need some sort
: of reel arrangement in order to reel the parafoil back in. The line being
: used is 200lb test.