Is it possible to go on a Cumberland Islands sailing cruise?

Yes – it is possible to go on a Cumberland Islands sailing cruise. There are dozens of operators to choose from. It’s just that the islands are known as the Whitsundays, despite not appearing under that name on marine maps.

Detailed answer: The Cumberland Islands sound fantastic. They’re a collection of 74 tropical islands, lying just off the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. Many have dazzling white sand beaches and top drawer snorkelling just offshore. Yet hardly any visitors to Australia have heard of them, which seems a serious omission on the marketing front. Search for “Cumberland Islands sailing cruise” and not much is going to come up.

The Cumberland Islands haven’t been forgotten about, though. They’re just going under a different name.

The naming of the Cumberland Islands

In 1770, Lt James Cook was the first European to sail through the islands. He named just one individual island – Pentecost Island. But the great British navigator also chose the name for the island group. They were named the Cumberland Isles (later becoming the Cumberland Islands) in honour of the Duke of Cumberland.

Later, the Cumberland theme was added to several of the islands. Keswick Island, Carlisle Island and Cockermouth Island have names that will be familiar to anyone with passing knowledge of Cumbria in north-west England.

But it was the name Cook attached to the channel running through the islands that might make them more familiar. Cook named it “the Whitsunday Passage”, despite it technically being Whit Monday when the passage was first seen.

Sailing in the Whitsundays

The islands may be officially known as the Cumberland Islands, and appear on marine maps as such. But over the years they’ve come to be known as the Whitsunday Islands. Nothing’s going to get marketed as a Cumberland Islands sailing cruise, but the fight for custom on a Whitsundays sailing cruise is ridiculously fierce.

Cook wasn’t the last to sail through this archipelago – millions have followed him since. The region is Australia’s premier sailing destination. The Whitsundays draw in regattas, weekend enthusiasts, professional yachties and big city businessmen who are prepared to pay large sums to berth their yacht and have it crewed whenever they fancy a short break.

For backpackers, too, a jaunt around the Whitsundays has long been a key highlight of the well-worn East Coast trail. Typically, it’s a case of signing up for a three day, two night cruise, then helping out wherever needed as the yacht flits around the islands under sail. Part of the fun is at least pretending to learn the ropes, part of it is the scenery on the way, part of it is leaning over to the side as the yacht picks up speed in feisty winds and choppy waters.

Picking a Whitsundays cruise

But it’s also about the bonding experience of sitting on deck after the sun goes down, gradually ploughing through coolers of beer and boxes of wine. The Sailing Whitsundays travel agency is a good place to start picking through the options, most of which depart from the Queensland town of Airlie Beach. Whitsundays kayaking tours are another option available. You can also do day trips with the likes of Ocean Rafting.

September’s the best month to visit the Whitsundays, but drop by at Cape Hillsborough to see kangaroos on the beach on your way up the coast.

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