The Greek Holiday with a twist.

Tuning in the radio, the weather was on the change again.

'Tomorrow there will be a southerly wind, up to force two or three.' Announced the weather forecast man.

We crashed out underneath the starry clad sky. Only to find us still there the next morning watching the sun rises. What a sight it was, the sky filled with rainbow colours with a red blanket acting like an over sheet. In the distance, our friends on the other boat were closing in. To add to all this excitement, I could see in the far distance that Greece was on the horizon, my stomach churned with anticipation. It wouldn't be long now.

My excitement changed to fear. A clap of thunder, and a sheet of lightening fought the water beside the boat. We were in trouble. Water forced its way into the boat, as we were tossed around from one end to another. The wind was angry. I looked behind me, but only to find the others in the same situation behind us.

My dad ran to the side, only to hang his head over the side, and throw up last night's dinner. I also found myself doing the same thing shortly afterwards.

This storm was a surprising attack on my family and friends, who were still following us not far behind. Trying not to loose track. Terrible thoughts were going through my head, all of what's the worst that could happen. Why now? I kept asking myself, as I stumbled down the wave washed, slippery steps to my cabin. What had happened? It was forecasted a southerly wind, and at the most a force two or three wind.

With some hope still left in me, that this will just blow over I sat on

My bed in deep thought, while trying to get some sort of signal on the radio. After several tries of going over the stations again and again. I had found something. It may have been crackly and the voice wasn't clear, but it was something. That was what made me get through this situation.

'A sudden storm has erupted; it's a northerly wind with winds from force nine. Take cover where possible and stay away from oversized, light objects' announced the weatherman in a serious voice. Well, this is what I thought I could make out. A force two to a force nine plus. It was a joke but at the same time I was shocked and stunned at this news.

Straightaway I ran over to my dad to explain to him what I had just heard, and that I had found signal to radio the others and contact for help. After many failed attempts, dad gave up hope and started franticly bailing the water out, which was no real help as the water kept on replacing itself, but we had to do something.

Dad was panicking. He was put on the spot because it was all up to him; considering mum was just a nervous reck on the side. We had no other way of contacting the others, 'unless...' I thought to myself, my head turned straight towards the raft boat at the back, which was on loose end, bouncing up and down non-stop. Struggling to keep its hold onto the rope, attaching it to the boat. I ran over and with out thinking I pulled it in so I could get in and get to the others, but as I was pulling it in, fighting against the strong, angry wind the rope snapped and the tension was enough to spring me back, SMACK the rope shot me back and hit me in the face. There was enough force that it knocked me over, I had lost consciousness and I was rolling endlessly.

Mum came running up the steps. The water had flowed down to the lower deck and had started rising. My nightmares had come true, and this was ment to be a holiday. As I regained consciousness slowly everyone started to go quiet, mum stop calling for me, and dad stopped calling for mum. Only seagulls could be heard and the overlapping of waves.

A boat's horn could be heard in the distance. They were coming for us. As my hand slipped off the support I was holding, my body lapsed into the water, and I reminded myself the boat was on its way. Everything was quiet, too quiet, then a seagull screeched, everything was lost...

Kristina Clarke 9/7