SEQUIM — Reservations were slowly floating in Tuesday and Wednesday from those who want to fly in a balloon at the first Sequim Balloon Festival on Sept. 1-3 next year.
The price: $250 a person, with up to three aboard per flight.
A three-payment plan is available if passengers preferring to do that before liftoff.
As of noon Wednesday, 12 had signed up.
“Whoever registers up first gets to fly, because there are going to be a limited number of spots and that reduces the numbers considerably,” said Randall Tomaras, the festival’s executive director.
Tomaras opened reservations at 9 a.m. Tuesday in a conference room at the Holiday Inn Express and Conference Center, 1441 E. Washington St., in Sequim.
He had taken 10 reservations by phone and walk-in three hours later.
Tomaras has planned first-come, first-serve reservations for about 90 people to ride in about 15 balloons over three days, but it all depends on the number of balloons showing up for the late-summer event.
“The whole purpose of getting an early sign-up is to get more balloons,” Tomaras said, adding it helps defray the balloonists’ expenses.
He expects up to 20 balloons and their crews will show up for the first festival at the 40-acre site on pasture land owned by Fred Grant across East Washington Street from the hotel.
Balloon riders, who will float at about 1,500 feet depending on wind behavior, could have an expansive view of the Dungeness Valley from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, depending on air quality.
Randy Dupont, owner of Hardy’s Market at North Sequim Avenue and Old Olympic Highway and another store in Carlsborg at Taylor Cutoff Road, was the first one through the door Tuesday to reserve a place on a balloon.
His family chipped in for his flights, he said, giving him an early Christmas gift.
“I just want to see Sequim from on high because I’ve never been over Sequim before,” he said.
Dupont said he believes the festival, its balloon rides and several other related events was worthwhile “because what it is going to do for Sequim.
“It’s going to being more people here.”
“I’m trying to get other people to ride with me, but I can’t find anyone brave enough to go up,” Dupont added.
Tomaras, on the festival’s Web site, www.sequimballoonfestival.com, explained how balloon rides and balloon tethers will work for the Sequim Balloon Festival.
“We have no doubt that balloon rides will sell out, so if you are interested sign up now,” Tomaras said.
“To be fair we will take people on a first come first serve basis.
The balloons will fly three mornings, weather permitting, and usually only go up early before the temperature heats up and the winds become unpredictable, he said.
Most balloons hold three people and a pilot.
All the pilots will be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, Tomaras said, and must have a required number of hours before they can take passengers on rides.
For the safety of the passengers, balloons will not go up if it is raining or windy, he said, which is why the festival was planned for September, which is normally the driest and most windless time of year.
Tomaras drives home the point that in the past 31 years there have only been two days that it rained and two days that the wind has blown more than 12 miles per hour in September.
If balloons do not go up, people will receive a full refund, he said.
The expense of ballooning is another factor in the cost per flight, he said.
A four-person balloon starts at $30,000. The more colors and design a balloon has, the more expensive it is.
Balloons with unique shapes are far more expensive, he said.
The cost of chase vehicles and the trailers can run up to $70,000.
All balloonists that take people up for rides carry insurance that cost $1,000 a year per balloon.
Then there is the propane fuel, which can run up to $150 a run.
Since there are not many balloons, most balloonists travel a long distance to get to a festival.
Gasoline and other expenses can cost $300 to 1,000 for a round trip.
A balloon is good for 500 to 600 hours of flying time.
Most balloon festivals do not offer rides because it increases the festival insurance, Tomaras said.
“I say all this because most people ask me why do balloon rides cost $250 per person,” he said.
“The truth is balloonists love their sport and they love to share and while you may be paying $250 for a lifetime experience, you are being partly subsidized by the balloonist, their sponsor, and the Sequim Balloon Festival.”
Sponsors of each balloon pay $1,500.
“It is some of the best advertising they can possibly have because so many pictures are taken and people talk about the event forever,” Tomaras said.
A festival volunteers meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Holiday Inn conference center.
Reservations can be made by emailing SequimBalloonFestival@gmail.com or calling 360-461-2202.
________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.