Waiben or Thursday Island

Thursday Island is only about 3.5 square kilometers (1.4 square miles) but is the most developed island in the Torres Strait group. It is located just north of the Cape York Peninsula, which is mainland Australia's most northern point. Thursday Island is also known as Waiben which means 'place of no water' - clearly this reflects an earlier age of no freshwater and ignoring the expanse of sea that surrounds the island. Culturally there is a fusion because the Torres Strait Islands are situated just south of Papua New Guinea and approximately 39 kilometers north (24 miles) off the Queensland's coast, leading to different influences than on the mainland.

The island also has an interesting history - most of it relating to the sea. In 1893, the Green Hill Fort was built on fears of a Russian invasion. Also, that same year, the All Souls Quetta Memorial Church was built in memory of the Quetta shipwreck in 1890, which killed 133 people when it struck an unknown reef. The Japanese Pearl Memorial is dedicated to the hundreds of pearl divers who died from decompression sickness. Evidently, there has been a long association with the challenging tidal waters which surround the island and those who sail through the waters will need to have their wits about them.

Thursday Island was also important during World War II as a base for Australian and American troops. The highest point on Waiben, standing at 104 meters (341Ft) above sea level is Milman Hill which was a World War II defence facility. From its peak, it will be possible to see the World ARC fleet at anchor, as one looks from the island across to Horn Island.

The World ARC fleet will visit Thursday Island at the end of their free cruising period through the Great Barrier Reef. The rendezvous will gather the yachts together so that they can make passage through the challenging tidal waters of the Torres Strait together before arriving in Darwin.