kites, picnic or just soak up the sun and atmosphere of a balmy Good Friday.

Organisers claimed a record number of residents and tourists turned out at Horseshoe Bay for the annual community day which is held every Good Friday by the United Bermuda Party .

The scene without a doubt managed to draw the largest numbers and was the most colourful venue on the island.

The highlight of course, was the kites and there were plenty of them. Alan Black, winner in the smallest kite competition, showed his mastery at dealing with intricate detail. He made three so tiny, they were barely visible to the naked eye.

Godfrey (Starlight) Smith deservedly took the title for most original.

Presenting his velveteen box from the platform, he talked the crowd through his creation -- an ingenious device which sees a kite with the colours of the Bermuda flag always in flight through a `pop-up' technique.

Lewis Ferrety of Saltus junior school won the prize for most original in the primary school section. His tissue papered fish kite, complete with scales, was one of the few entries that was actually airborne before the judging took place.

Stevon Richardson of Somerset Primary and Shawn Adderley of Berkeley Institute picked up the awards for the most beautiful in the primary and secondary categories. Despite the large turnout, Mr. Adderley was the only entrant in his division.

Kevin Harney won for largest kite while the crowd took issue with Peter Matcham's hi-tech entry. Not easily dazzled by a seemingly complex creation, the crowd demanded that Mr. Matcham explain just how he made the kite.

After bewildering the beach-goers with computer jargon, Mr. Matcham found himself out of the running altogether.

Not everyone on the beach had a kite. Not many braved the cold water. Family activity was the order of the day, with the Opposition Leader, Pamela Gordon particularly pleased with that scene.

"We are glad so many have turned out with their families, it is so good to see this type of interaction, especially at this special time of year,'' she said.

Scores of residents also took to Astwood Park, Elbow Beach and parks and open spaces around the Islands.

This year saw more kites lost to overhead wire entanglements.

A Belco spokeswoman said 55 kites became tangled in overhead wires yesterday.

But only one wayward kite caused a temporary power outage around 6 p.m. for residents in the Camp Hill and Horseshoe Road area in Southampton.