Admiral Karpfanger (barque)

In 1932 Gustaf Erikson bought l'Avenir and added her to his fleet of commercial sailing ships.

In 1937 Erikson sold her to Hamburg America Line (HAPAG), who refitted her as a sail training ship and renamed her Admiral Karpfanger.

[1] L'Avenir had a long career as a Belgian sail training ship registered in Antwerp.

[2] Erikson operated a notable fleet of sailing cargo ships, which in the 1930s dominated the annual Grain race to bring wheat from Australia to Europe.

[3] In 1933–34 the composer Percy Grainger and his second wife, the artist Ella Ström, were passengers on l'Avenir from Europe to Port Germein, South Australia.

[4] In 1937 HAPAG bought l'Avenir from Erikson and had her overhauled and refitted as a training ship for its officer cadets.

She docked in Port Germein on 6 January 1938 and spent the next month loading a cargo of 3,447 tons of wheat.

Aboard l'Avenir in Buenos Aires when she was a Belgian training ship, about 1930
Admiral Karpfanger in Port Germein, South Australia in 1938 before her final voyage
Detailed coverage from 1938 about the missing of the Admiral Karpfanger. With descriptions of possible rescue missions; speculation about what might have happened, and the crew's chances of survival. All articles from the Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) of July 13, 1938.
Readable in full resolution.
On deck on l'Avenir in Buenos Aires in 1930