"Most of the launchings were stirring--up, up and away while
thousands cheered. But a few were tragicomic. Columbine II, an
unofficial entry because it held more helium than the rules allow,
had too much ballast, lifted briefly and then splashed down into
the harbor like a returning space capsule before taking off again.
Two balloons, Columbine II and Belgium's Belgique, were shot at by
nuts on the ground."