Michael
Following your inquiry, I contacted an Argentine friend who is also a seaman, and he informed me of the following:
"Before your inquiry, I just communicated with my friend and we came to the conclusion that her trip spanned the end of 1985 and the beginning of 1986. She remembers that the defeat was crossing the Atlantic to the East and then across the Indian Ocean to its destination in Kwinana where they stayed at anchor for a few days before taking the pier.
The return was also direct but now through the Pacific Ocean to the Fuegian channels and its destination Puerto Madryn. As an anecdotal matter, he recalls that they had to land at a place in New Zealand to disembark a crew member affected by appendicitis.
My friend clarifies that the GLADIATOR ship made several trips between Australia and Puerto Madryn, she only manned it once but those trips were at least three.-"
Regards
Tomi.
Hi Tomi,
What an investigation !!!
In fact, everything you and your friend say reassures me a lot ...
Can I ask you, however, to clarify a few things, just to be perfectly in tune with my story?
For example, would you know during which months of the year was the Kwinana - Puerto Madryn part done? Was it in summer? Could you get specific dates?
About the sailor with the appendicitis (by the way, it's an anecdote that I like and could use ...), does your friend remember the New Zealand port where he disembarked?
Do you know if there were there any stopovers on the way? Could you confirm whether the Gladiator passed by the Strait of Magellan, and not the Cape Horn?
Last thing, does your friend remember how was the crew made of? (At least a little.)
I would be extremely happy if you could answer these questions.
So, I hope to read you very soon and I thank you once again for your precious help !!!
Michael