Cumberland Bay

Cumberland Bay cuts into the leeward coast below slopes that rise steeply and are covered in coconut and banana, and the water in it drops away so quickly that yachts moor bow-to with a line ashore rather than swinging at anchor. Boat boys meet arriving vessels and take lines. A few restaurants operate on the beach. It is one of the standard stops on the passage down the island chain.

What you actually see

• The deep anchorage - water dropping away so fast that boats moor with lines ashore.
• The steep slopes - coconut and banana running down to the bay on all sides.
• The beach restaurants - the small places along the shore.
• The sailing route - a standard stop on the passage through the islands.

When to go

December to May is the dry and sailing season. Hurricane season runs June to November. The bay is quiet outside the yachting months.

Honest expectations

Boat boys can be persistent and arrangements are best settled clearly on arrival. Facilities ashore are basic. The road down from the highway is steep and rough.

Nearby

Wallilabou is south, and Chateaubelair is north.