Crew Available: Hoping to work my way across the Atlantic

[ARFB]

Hi,

I am looking for passage on any boat leaving eastern North America and heading to Europe or North Africa sometime in September or early October. I realize these aren't the best months, but I'm giving it a shot anyhow. I am a hard worker, and good at following orders, also good at getting along with people.

I recently graduated from a journalism master's program and I'm spending the next few month freelancing, while I look for more steady work. I am heading to southern Europe and north Africa. But I love the ocean and I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to experience the open sea, rather than hopping on a flight, and being there in 6 hours.

I don't want to exaggerate or miss represent myself, so my sailing experience is as follows: I can rig and sail a dinghy pretty well, I learned on San Francisco bay during college, and I'm comptent (it's not that hard). I also occasionally participated in yacht races, crewing, on the SF bay. So, though I know my way around a boat, knots, and the basics, I do not know the finer points, and wouldn't call myself a real sailor.

However, I worked a summer up in Alaska as a salmon fisherman. We were on a small boat, with an outboard motor. I was a deckhand, dealing with the nets and fish. But I know that I don't get seasick, and I know that I don't mind being freezing and wet and working hard, in the middle of the night, without sleep for a few days at a time. Another important thing, I can take orders. This was very necessary on the fishing boat.

My other work experience includes about a year as a carpenter's apprentice, and about 2-3 years as a plumber's assistant. I've also done some sheet metal work, and other construction work, and I once as a handyman at a marina, mostly patching up fiberglass. That's all my hands on work experience. In addition I've worked as a substitute teacher, at a grocery store and in restaurants. I can cook a few alright dishes that my mom taught me, but nothing fancy, again, I wouldn't call myself a cook.

I also speak fluent Spanish.

I'm 28, strong, 6'4", in decent shape, with no ailments. Don't use drugs, don't drink heavily, and I don't smoke. I'm pretty easy going. I've been in tight quarters and working situations with all kinds of people, and I pride myself in being able to get along with anyone.

I'm just going through the stats here, so let's see what else I should add. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in anthropology, I'm from Los Angeles originally, and I've been in New York for the last year.

Any responses would be welcome, thank you for your time.

Adrian