HELEN, Ga. — Thursday’s weather was perfect for the 500 or so motorcycle riders who descended on Helen for the three-day Southeast Victory Motorcycle Rally, not so much for those 25 or so participants in the 43rd annual Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race.

The sky was clear and the morning temperature was a comfortable 70 degrees but there was little or no wind. Not good, if wind power is your only engine.

Event Director Cathy Cleiman, of Helen, said, “For spectators this morning, the weather is ideal because the winds are very calm. Calm is great for having a static display of the balloons, but you won’t go anywhere if you take off at this hour except toward the National Forest because winds aloft are all going north and we really don’t need to be in the forest.”

If Cleiman was less than thrilled, about the weather, she was more than pleased with the turnout.

“They have come from all over the country,” she said. “The farthest is Don Edwards who has come here from Alaska. He arrived yesterday.”

Not everyone participates in the long distance endurance portion of the race which ends at I-95 or sunset on Friday, whichever comes first. The winner is the one closest to or across the finish line.

Cleiman said she was unsure how many would participate in that portion of the race. “Right now, I think there will be 4 or 5,” she said.”They are not required to declare until they have some good ground behind them and they like to play mind games with each other. They keep giving me hints they might go.”

As of early Thursday morning D.J. Stukas of South Carolina and Jonathan Wright were expected to compete.