Cunard Commodore Christopher Rynd Retires After Distinguished Career At Sea.

Cunard has announced the retirement of Commodore Christopher Rynd following an epic seafaring career as distinguished as his presence on the bridge of the many ships he has commanded.

Commodore Rynd was seen as the quintessential Cunard ship’s Master but his career spanned a number of cruise shipping lines and vessels that made him a popular figure with countless thousands of cruise guests.

The Commodore was famously photographed by James Morgan in this signature position alongside the famous Queen Mary 2 red funnel when the Cunard flagship visited Sydney in 2012.

But Commodore Rynd was equally at home saluting Australia’s ‘summer heroes’ – volunteer bushfire fighters and SES personnel who battled an epic summer of fire and flood – who sailed as guests on Queen Mary 2.

Or, in a salute to seafaring heritage, carrying Captain James Cook memorabilia and Matthew Flinders’ original Nineteenth Century charts of Australia courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales and its former curator Paul Brunton.

“Throughout his long career, Christopher Rynd was seen as the image of a ship’s Master with his distinguished manner, respect for guests and crew and love of ships and seafaring,” said Carnival Australia President Sture Myrmell.

“In the later years of his career, Commodore Rynd was most closely associated with Cunard but he also introduced many thousands of Australians to cruising at the helm of P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises vessels.”

Commodore Rynd had an extensive career with our organisa tion starting in 1974 as junior third officer on the S.S. Oronsay when P&O Cruises was still part of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

His first command was on the much loved Royal Princess and over the years he has commanded nine different classes of vessels with propulsion systems ranging from steam to ultra-modern quadruple pods.

Commodore Rynd joined Queen Elizabeth2 in 2005 and subsequently commanded Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

“All of us at Carnival Australia wish Commodore Rynd well in his retirement after such an awe-inspiring career at sea,” Mr Myrmell said.

Information supplied by: Cunard Line And www.australiancruisingnews.com.au The HOME Of Australian Cruising!