Maximum wind allowable for a safe hot air balloon race?

Question

Some festivals around the country (and world) include hot air balloon "glows" where they inflate hot air balloons at night that glow when they blast the heaters. And often these shows are followed the next day by a hot air balloon race (of sorts) but neither can occur if the wind is too strong, but I can't remember what that air speed limitation is.

This weekend these events are occuring as a part of the Kentucky Derby Festival and am trying to make plans for my little nieces.

Answer 1

Depends on the pilot and experience of the crew.  The medium sized ballons are about 7 tons of mass -- I've seen them drag around a 2 1/2 ton van like it was nothing.

For a champagne flight, early morning, we used about 4 knots as the max.