The Masters of Cunard’s three ships gathered together by the funnel of flagship Queen Mary 2 this morning ahead of the spectacular sailaway to mark the start of the celebrations for Cunard’s 175th anniversary year.
The Three Queens – Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 – returned from their World Cruises today, arriving in Southampton in the early morning. After a rare opportunity for the three Captains to meet up together on the same vessel, the masters will take command of their respective ships and for the first time the fleet will sail together in daylight from Cunard’s homeport of Southampton led by Queen Mary 2.
Commodore Christopher Rynd, Master of Queen Victoria, is joined on the funnel by Captain Chris Wells, Master of Queen Mary 2 and Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, Master of Queen Elizabeth and Cunard’s first ever female Captain.
Commodore Rynd said: “This is the first time that the Cunard ships have been in Southampton since they set off on their World Cruises in January, so it’s great to have the opportunity to meet with my fellow Captains. We rarely get together in this way, and it’s only the fourth time ever that these three Queens have gathered here in Southampton.
“Today is a special day for Cunard, as the 175 anniversary celebrations are initiated here in our homeport. We are looking forward to sailing the three Queens out from Southampton this afternoon in special formation and adding a little bit more history to the Cunard story.”
Cunard must have been keen to mark the event with this unique get-together – they flew photographer James Morgan from Australia to record it.
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