Cash tills at Horseshoe Bay were bled dry on a wet Good Friday yesterday, costing one cafe owner thousands of dollars in lost business.

The howling wind and rain did not dampen the spirits of hundreds of Easter revellers who turned out even though the beach's annual kite extravaganza was cancelled.

But the biggest loser was the Horseshoe Bay Beach Cafe, which had to throw out mountains of stock on what should have been the busiest day of the year.

Manager Andy Allan only heard the kite contest was cancelled when he tuned into the radio at 9 a.m.

And he told The Royal Gazette he was overloaded with fish cakes -- and underloaded with cash -- on a day when he could have expected to rake in thousands.

Around 200 hardy enthusiasts grappled with their homemade kites and lines while the sand swirled in the air and the waves came crashing up the beach yesterday.

But the bands were cancelled, the competitions and displays called off and even Pamela Gordon had to delay announcing the winner of the Premier's first essay competition.

Mr. Allan said: "I can hardly say it's been a decent trade today. In fact, it's been disastrous. All we've been getting is the tail end of some early morning tourist trade and there have been very few locals coming in for ice creams or fish cakes.

"It really has been a disaster for us because we're normally busy from 10 a.m. right through the day and we can usually expect very good takings.

"This is the biggest day of the year -- even bigger than May 24 and hot summer days -- but it's just been a total flop.

"Nobody advised us before hand that the organised events might be called off, so we were all set up and ready, but for nothing.

"We got extra stock in, big time -- lots of codfish cakes and hot cross buns.

They're a big Bermuda tradition but now we will lose money and we'll have to throw a lot of stuff away.'' Young United Bermuda, the party's organisers, called off the fun amid fears for safety and after musicians said they would be unable to set up.

Ms Gordon, due to take centre stage with the essay competition results, said the announcements would now be made at Hamilton City Hall on Monday afternoon.

She added: "It's been such a disappointing day. But I'm not surprised there were still many hardy souls who braved it to fly their kites.

"It's traditionally Bermudian that people went out there. There are always die-hards here and they will go out wind, rain or shine.

"On Good Friday, you simply have to be able to fly a kite.'' Jerome Wade, who took his 10-year-old daughter Saranna to the beach, agreed.

He said: "We weren't going to be put off by this weather. Why should we? It's Good Friday and kids love to fly kites.'' Saranna added: "I didn't mind about the weather, as long as I was still able to try my kite.'' British tourist Amanada Finnamore added: "I've been here before and seen the kites but we've never flown one before.

Kite flyers grounded "This time we really wanted to make one so we did -- and we're expecting it to fall apart any minute!'' she told The Royal Gazette .

And Claire O'Connor, 25, added: "It's the first time I've been kite flying so there's no way I was going to be put off by this weather. But the wind's just got the kite stuck in a tree so I suppose that's it for the day!''