THE £550 million Cunard super-liner Queen Mary 2, the world's largest liner, anchored in Falmouth bay over the weekend. She was here to carry out lifeboat drills on the second of her three two-day shakedown cruises before she is officially named today (Thursday) by the Queen in Southampton.

Shrouded by mist the 1,132 feet long mighty Cunarder looked impressive to hundreds of people who had gathered on the shoreline.

On board was Captain Paul Wright, who lives in Malpas, Truro, and will take over command from Commodore Ronald Warwick after the ship's maiden voyage.

Falmouth pilot Captain Gordon Kent brought Cunard's 150,000 tonne flagship into her anchorage south west of Pendennis Point. He told Commodore Ronald Warwick, QM 2's master, it was an immense honour for the Port of Falmouth to welcome the liner just before she embarked on her maiden voyage.

Gordon and Commodore Warwick first met in 1998 when the liner Queen Elizabeth 2 anchored off the port on Tall Ships Race day.

Gordon said: "I came on duty at 0800 hours on Saturday and an hour later I was on the bridge of the worlds most talked about ship."

Peter Fox, managing director of GC Fox (SW) Ltd, the liner's agents based in Falmouth docks, boarded the ship with agency manager Geoff Hoyle.

Captain Paul Wright gave the Packet an exclusive interview when I boarded the ship later in the day with pilot Phil Bush. On behalf of the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners we presented Captain Wright with a commemorative plaque to mark the ship's historic visit.

"Our thanks to the Falmouth port authority for this plaque which we will hang with pride on the bulkhead to remind us of Falmouth. And a big thank you to everyone concerned who accommodated us at short notice. The lifeboat and safety drills went according to plan," said Capt Wright.

He managed to go ashore in one of the liner's high-tech tenders during the visit. "I did some shopping and had a pasty," he said.

Tenders from the liner tested out the passenger landing pontoon at County wharf in case of future visits.

Fifty-four-year-old Paul who spent 10 years living in Cornwall in his 20s, has lived at Malpas for four years where he has a waterside apartment on the banks of the river. He has spent the past four years in command of the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 before joining the QM 2 in the builder's yard in France in November 2003.

"This is a superb ship and we are all immensely proud to sail on this futuristic liner," he said.

Commodore Warwick was below decks signing copies of his new book about the QE 2 when we joined Paul Wright on the bridge for the liner's departure. Surrounded by banks of computerised displays the navigating bridge is space age in concept.

I jokingly rebuked him for not flying the St Piran courtesy ensign from the ship's yardarm. "Next time we anchor off it will be flying," he promised.

When the order came from the forecastle that the anchor was aweigh Captain Wright blew farewell to Falmouth on the ship's mega whistle, an exact replica of the whistle on the former Queen Mary. A compressed air system creates the two octaves below middle C note that is audible for a distance of ten miles.

On Pendennis Point and along the seafront hundreds of people watched as the pride of Britain's Merchant Navy steamed away to the south.