Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race

Helen to the AtlanticBalloon Race & Festival

"From the Center of the world to the edge of the Earth" Pete Hodkinson, 1974

48th Annual Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival
June 3, 4 and 5, 2021

5-19-2021 UPDATE:

The balloon event is a go! We will be following the new CDC guidelines regarding covid19 - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html Please read and follow the new guidelines. If you do come to the event, please help to keep everyone safe and follow the CDC guidelines.

If you are feeling ill or have a fever, PLEASE DO NOT come to the event. PLEASE keep everyone safe and healthy.

To help keep the pilots, crews and public safe, there will be NO tethered balloon rides this year.

4-27-2021 UPDATE:

We are still planning to have the balloon event. At this point it seems that many government covid19 requirements have expired and we will be allowed to proceed with our event.

While Georgia and the USA is reopening, the virus is not going away any time soon. There are still many health concerns and government regulations/recommendations. We will continue to monitor the CDC's guidelines and follow them in order to try and help protect us all.

All persons attending are require to follow current CDC guidelines : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

If you are feeling ill or have a fever, PLEASE DO NOT come to the event.

If you do come to the balloon event, PLEASE social distance from those outside of your family group. If you cannot social distance PLEASE wear a mask ( yes, we are outside - however there will be a lot of people from all different parts of the country) PLEASE help us all to stay safe.

To help keep the pilots, crews and public safe, there will be NO tethered balloon rides this year.

Note: Pilots may allow those with Covid19 vaccinations to get a closer view of their balloons and baskets.

2/23/2021 COVID 19 update:

Dear Friends,

It has been a long year since Covid19 first appeared on the scene. Many people have lost their lives and others have been severely affected by the virus. Hopefully the vaccines that are going into arms will help to slow the virus down and bring life back to some sense of normalcy. We will see...

We are currently planning to have the Helen to the Atlantic balloon race.

While Georgia is reopening, the virus is not going away any time soon. There are still many health concerns and government regulations. As the event gets closer, we will take a look at the CDC guidelines. And, we will look at the Executive Orders from Gov. Kemp to see if they allow for large gatherings.

We hope and pray that all of you are staying safe and healthy.

We missed seeing everyone last year. Hopefully, we will be able to gather once again in June 2021. We look forward to seeing everyone.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The South's oldest balloon event and the United States' only long distance hot air balloon race will begin (weather permitting) with a mass ascension of around 20 bright and colorful hot air balloons, in North Georgia's Alpine Village - Helen. Race competitors and local flyers will take to the sky at 7:00 am, Thursday, June 3, 2021. If the weather conditions are too windy or storms are forecast, the take off will be postponed until conditions are acceptable.

The people of Helen believe that Helen, Georgia is the center of their world and in Columbus' day the Atlantic Ocean was the "edge of the Earth". Thus, 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. Several balloons will be competing in the cross country race.

It is a race where both the pilot's and crew's skills are challenged. A balloon can only go the same speed and direction as the wind. The pilot must find the altitude which gives him/her the best speed as well as direction towards the finish line. The race becomes a crew event as well, since the balloons are limited to 40 gallons of fuel (propane). Forty gallons is approximately enough fuel to last 4 hours, so the balloons have to land for refueling. If the crew is not there immediately with fresh tanks, valuable time is lost while the pilot and crew try to find each other.

The winner is the first person to cross I-95, or whoever is ahead at sunset on Friday, June 4, 2021.

While the competition to the Atlantic continues, other balloonist compete in local events beginning Thursday evening around 6:00 pm. Local flying events will take place also on Friday and Saturday. The balloons will fly around 7:30 am and 6:00 pm each day (weather permitting). The balloons will only fly for around 1 to 2 hours. There will be many opportunities available to the public; assisting with the inflations, being a part of a chase crew or taking a tethered ride in a balloon. There will be approximately 20 balloons flying locally.

There will be NO ballooning activities during the middle of the day.

Helen offers many sights and attractions to keep one busy when the balloons are not flying.

Ballooning in Helen is challenging because the Alpine Village is surrounded by Mountains, National Forest and State Parks. However it is worth the added effort when you can look down just above the tree tops at the mountains, the vast woodlands, the streams and the waterfalls. You might even catch a glimpse of a group of deer or watch a falcon or eagle snare its dinner.

The Helendorf River Inn (706-878-2271) is the host and headquarters as it has been since 1974, as well as a major sponsor and organizer of the balloon race. Barbara Gay has been organizing and sponsoring the race, as well as graciously hosting the pilots for many years. Nowadays, Catherine Gay Cleiman is the event organizer. Catherine, along with son Cole and the staff of the Helendorf, bring a great balloon event together for the city of Helen. In 2003, the Gay family (Dick, Barbara & Catherine) were all recognized by the Ballooning Federation of America for their contribution to the sport of ballooning in the United States.

While staying at the Helendorf the pilots, their families and crews stay busy with hot dog roasts on the patio by the river, tubing down the river, hikes to waterfalls, picnics, buggy rides, an afternoon at the amusement park, a round of golf, gold panning, visits to museums or shopping. Alpine Helen offers much for guests to enjoy.

Our Balloonmeister is Tarp Head. He participated in the event the since the first year in 1974. He won the race to the Atlantic in 1979. His interest in the balloon race led to his vocation. He started HEAD Balloons, Inc., one of five FAA approved balloon manufactures in the United States.

Schedule:

June 3 7:00 am lift-off for Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Mass Ascension
6:30 pm local balloon event

June 4 7:00 am local balloon event
6:30 pm local balloon event

June 5       7:00 am    local balloon event
                  6:30 pm    local balloon event

****** ALL BALLOON EVENTS ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT (No balloons if it is raining or too windy) -
NO activites during the middle of the day, ONLY in the mornings and the evenings.*******

LAUNCH FIELD LOCATION
The new launch field will be utilized again this year. It is located across the river from Cool River Tubing & the city’s River Park on the Wilkin’s property. To enter the field, go across the bridge at Cool River Tubing and turn left. While the majority of balloons will use the new launch field, a few balloons my also launch in various places around town. Please check with Balloon Race Headquarters at the Helendorf Inn to confirm that the balloons are flying and get more information about where they will be located. For more information call the Balloon Race Headquarters at 706-878-2271.

click here for a map to the new launch field

* Our special thanks go out to all of the local land owners who graciously allow the balloonist to take off and land on their property.

Please check with Balloon Race Headquarters at the Helendorf Inn to confirm that the balloons are flying and get more information. For more information call the Balloon Race Headquarters at 706-878-2271.

For a Map and Driving Directions to Helen click here.

Check with Race Headquarters for updates on who is winning the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race. Race updates may be posted here during the event, however they may not be as current as you will get by calling the Race Headquarters.

For more information on the event contact Race Headquarters at 706-878-2271 or email us at mail@helenballoon.com



	Click here to see photos of some of this year's participants.
	**2020 - covid19 - no winner
	2019 Race Results 1st-Drew Egerton, 2nd-Jonathan Wright, 3rd-David Bristol
	2018 Race Results 1st-Daryl Tatum. 2nd-Jonathan Wright
	2017 Race Results - winner Jonathan Wright
	2016 Race Results - winner David Harwell
	2015 Race Results winner Daryl Tatum
	2014 Race Results - click here winner Steve Stokoe
	2013 - No winner - the wind never blew towards the coast
	2012 Race Results - click here winner Daryl Tatum
	Congratulations to 2011 winner - Steve Stokoe
	2010 Race Results - click here winner Daryl Tatum
	** 2009 Race Results and Photos
	2008 Race Results - click here winners - tie between Daryl Tatum & Steve Stokoe
	2005 Race Results - click here winner - Rain
	2004 Race Results - click here winner Dan Stukas
	2003 Race Results - click here winner Steve Stokoe
	2002 Race Results s - click here winner- tie between Dan Stukas & David Bristol



	Race Headquarters, sponsor and organizer of the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race and Festival 706-878-2271
	Local Manufacturer of FAA Approved Hot Air Balloons
	Official home page of Alpine Helen, Georgia
	Official tubing company of the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival
	Official beer of the Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race & Festival. Northeast Sales Distributing - Athens, Georgia
The Helen Story	the history of Helen's transformation - The Helen Story and images of the past

	Click here to see Helen's 1st balloon ascension
	Local "CANDY MAN" and balloon enthusiast David Jones new book. Click here to buy one, or better yet stop by Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen while you are in Helen and pick up a signed copy along with your fudge.
VISIT NORTHEAST GEORGIA . com	www.visitnortheastgeorgia.com has a lot of information about the Northeast Georgia Mountains
www.n-georgia.com	www.n-georgia.com is another great resource for information on Northeast Georgia
roadsidegeorgia.com	Great website! A good history of Helen and has much information on all of Northeast Georgia.

eBay sniper	Ebay's Ezsniper - try it out for your next bid

Join us on Face Book

Hot air balloons inflated ready for lift off.

For more information on the event contact Race Headquarters at 706-878-2271 or email us at mail@helenballoon.com

Click here to see Désirée and Tarp's webpage