Abel Tasman sighted Umboi Island in the Vitiaz Strait in 1643 but failed to realise that the Strait separated the island from the coast of New Guinea.Matthew Spriggs (1997) The island Melanesians p 242 drawing on Andrew Sharp (1968) The Voyages of Abel Janszoon Tasman William Dampier charted the passage now named Dampier Strait between Umboi Island and New Britain in 1700Matthew Spriggs (1997) The island Melanesians p 242-3 citing William Dampier (1906 ed. John Masefield) Dampier's voyages Vol II pp 522-45 Dampier had established that the land mass he named New Britain was an island. As he sailed northwesterly through the passage, Dampier charted and named various islands which lay between the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits: Sir George Rook's Island (later Rooke Island, now Umboi Island), Long Island (Arop Island) and Crown Island.William Dampier, A Continuation of a Voyage to New Holland Ch. 4 New Britain Discovered
