Strong winds and sheer bad luck conspired against Gozo Channel yesterday leaving it to operate with just one ferry as hundreds attempted to cross over for carnival weekend.

As Gozo businesses prepared for one of its busiest weekends, that would financially make up for the past two slow months, many Maltese were calling to cancel their booking when they learnt they had to wait at least eight hours to cross over.

Gozo Channel chairman Joe Borg was hopeful that all three ferries will be operating this afternoon; little consolation for those whose weekend plans have been disrupted.

"We spend so much time planning on how to market carnival to attract Maltese people to our island after two quiet months and something like this happens that throws everything out of sync," a disappointed Nadur mayor, Chris Said, said.

"We received a deluge of complaints from Maltese and many were calling to cancel their bookings at hotels and farmhouses - everyone here is so deluded," he said when contacted last night.

The Nadur carnival is one of the main crowd-pullers at this time of year and everybody, from shops to hotels and entertainment outlets, were hoping to generate some business.

However, Gozo Channel was operating with just one ferry - the Malita - after the other two developed technical problems. The strong winds exacerbated the situation and at one point the ferry service was operating from Sa Maison.

By early afternoon the queue of cars at Sa Maison, in Pietà, tailed back as far as Manoel Island as hundreds persisted in their goal to make the crossing.

However, frustration reigned supreme when they were informed that the 3 p.m. ferry was leaving from Cirkewwa and they had to turn back.

By early evening the cars tailed from Cirkewwa up to the Danish Village in Ghadira, disheartening many who cancelled their weekend plans.

Mr Borg explained that until Thursday, the Ta' Pinu ferry was operating with three engines, instead of four, a situation that could not be sustained in the light of such strong winds.

To make matters worse, the ramp of the Gaudos ferry was damaged on Wednesday and, despite entering Malta Shipyards, work on it could not start until yesterday morning.

"This has been an unfortunate situation. We've been very unlucky and matters have been compounded by the weather," Mr Borg said, expressing great dismay.

Engineers were working round the clock last night to try and get Ta' Pinu back on schedule in the hope of tackling the tailbacks and bringing some semblance of normality.

"I understand people's frustration, but we could not do otherwise. I hope all three ferries will be operating by tomorrow (today) afternoon," he said.