Photography by Whitehaven Motor Yachts
04 August 2017
A blend of luxury and practicality for entertaining, providing her owners with communion and connection with the sea, the Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 epitomises a calmer pace of boating.
But don’t be beguiled by her genteel appearance, this new model is as revolutionary as she is retro.
The perfect antidote to today’s hectic lifestyle, this compact and supremely comfortable 40ft dayboat combines the aesthetic and timeless appeal of a gentleman’s cruiser with the benefits of high-tech design and engineering, constructed with an expertly-designed hull for a quieter ride.
The original concept with her strong hull lines was created by highly respected New Zealand marine designer and qualified yacht builder, Bill Upfold. Australian naval architect, Misha Merzliakov re-imagined her for discerning Australian day boaters. The Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 is every inch a contemporary classic.
Merzliakov has designed superyachts and motor yachts in Australia and the UK, and has earned many accolades, including being identified by Lurssen Yachts in 2011 as an influential talent.
His vision for the Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 was to inject the “glamour and allure of the boating of yesteryear – think 1950s movie stars in Venice – into a superb day cruiser with all the enhancements of cutting-edge design, technology, materials and inclusions for performance and comfort. Superyacht features in a 40ft day boat”.
“I have drawn from classic elements, but with a modern twist,” Merzliakov said. “Its exterior lines communicate its capability – speed, space for entertaining and comfort. The living spaces are enhanced, so the large saloon opens to the deck or can be sealed off.
“You can literally lock up and leave your boat, and just as easily, jump onboard and set out on the spur of the moment.”
The Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 is the ultimate entertainer, blessed with a generous aft deck with seating for eight. Owners have the option of a solid extended roof for shade, a shorter version to let the sunshine in, or a retractable sunshade to satisfy both. The cockpit flows seamlessly into the roomy saloon and lounge for an optimal social setup.
Below decks, the galley is bathed in natural light and enjoys line of sight to the helm thanks to roomy stairway access portside, and with the option of all the mod-cons of boutique apartment living for a perfect day or weekend on the water, cruising the waterways of Sydney, Port Phillip Bay, the Gold Coast or the Whitsundays.
The single cabin conveys the intimacy of this style of boating, where the owners’ priorities are quality time onboard. If family or friends are welcome overnight visitors, you can opt for a dining table-to-bed conversion.
Owners will be inspired to savour their time onboard, with the sheer manoeuvrability of this compact and low-maintenance vessel, thanks to its single engine and joystick control, plus the power to achieve some 25 knots to find that ideal anchorage in time for sunset cocktails.
Whitehaven co-owner, Ryan Hanson said the advent of the latest design is the result of “responding to our clients and their desire for different style of boating”.
“Whitehaven has always given our clients the opportunity to incorporate their years of boating experience into the design of their boat, putting them at the heart of the brand, and focusing on the emotional and lifestyle benefits of boating.”
“A new opportunity has emerged to cater to the next phase in people’s boating journey, creating a smaller luxury harbour dayboat for entertaining on a more intimate scale.
“The Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 is entirely designed for a couple to simply share exquisite boating moments with their closest friends and family in absolute sophistication and style.”
Each Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 will be a customised masterpiece, brought to life for her owners with the personalised approach, precision and pride that are hallmarks of Whitehaven Motor Yachts.
Due to make her debut in August 2018, the enigmatic Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 is the definitive entertainer’s getaway, prized for her personality and panache.
The Whitehaven Harbour Classic 40 embodies spontaneous, sophisticated luxury for this stage of ‘Your Journey’.