The South's oldest balloon event and the country's only long distance hot air balloon race will begin (weather permitting) with a mass ascension of 30 hot air balloons Thursday in Helen.
Race competitors and local flyers will take to the sky at 7:00 a.m.. If the weather conditions are too windy or storms are forecast, the take off will be postponed until conditions are acceptable.
The late Pete Hodkinson came up with the concept for the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race. The race begins in Helen and the finish line is I-95 (anywhere between Maine and Miami). The shortest distance is 225 miles and the race usually takes two days. It has been done in one day, while some races have taken as many as four days. Six to ten balloons will be competing in the cross country race.
The winner is the balloon to cross I-95, or whoever is ahead at sunset on Friday.
While the competition to the Atlantic continues, other balloonist compete in local events beginning Thursday evening around 6:00. Local flying events will take place also on Friday and Saturday. The balloons will fly around 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day (weather permitting). The balloons will only fly for around one to two 2 hours. There will be many opportunities available to the public; assisting with the inflations, being a part of a chase crew, taking a tethered ride in a balloon or a champagne flight over the mountains.
(Click here http://www.helenballoon.com/ for more details.)
