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Queen Mary 2 returns to Saint-Nazaire for centenary of US soldiers' landing

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Queen Mary 2 will be racing four maxi-multihulls from the Saint-Nazaire Bridge to New York's Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Queen Mary 2 returned to Saint-Nazaire for the first time since its 2003 delivery from the French shipyard, excorted by an armada of military ships flying the flags of France, the US, Ireland, Germany and Great Britain. The occasion was watched by thousands of onlookers.

The Cunard liner was chartered by partner firms from Western France for The Bridge 2017, an event by the 14-18 French Centenary Mission to celebrate the memory of the 200,000 American soldiers who arrived in Saint-Nazaire and Brest in 1917 and to promote 100 years of fraternity between France and the US.

The 345-meter Cunard liner sailed Saturday to the place where it was built.

Queen Mary 2 leaves Sunday for a race from the Saint-Nazaire Bridge to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York, where it's due to arrive July1. Four maxi-multihulls, managed by racing champions, are taking part in the event: Sodebo (Thomas Coville), Macif (François Gabart), Actual (Yves Le Blevec) and Idec (Francis Joyon).

On June 25, 100 years to the day when the first American soldiers disembarked on the European continent, three cannon shots will be fired under the Saint-Nazaire Bridge. Queen Mary 2 will leave at 7 p.m. for the race. Up to 200,000 people are expected to be on hand.

The arrival of American jazz and music to France will also be celebrated on board the vessel.