Next incarnation

Dealing with the full range of massive machinery, they pride themselves on their knowledge of mechanical equipment.

“We have owned a lot of boats over the years; custom built 80-foot motor yachts, several 65 footers and most recently, imported a large Mangusta 105-foot superyacht. When we got on board Bruce’s boat, we decided it was the boat to take us to far North Queensland.

“It was built in 2011 and still has the ‘wow factor’,” Tony said. “The way they set it up all on one level is superb. We spend all our time on the back deck – we had 13 people for lunch the other day. The engine room is brilliant for its easy access and layout. Bruce really thought it through.

“The boat is fitted with Twin CAT C32 ACERT engines at 1,625 hp each which are reliable and efficient and you get great backup support from Caterpillar dealer network. One of the standout features is hydraulic thrusters front and rear, which are superior to electric thrusters, as well as Twin Disc transmission fitted with Skyhook with three stations, which is ideal for getting a big boat into a berth easily in all conditions.

“A large Seakeeper Gyro was fitted on board which is great for situations where there is a lot of swell particular around the Kepples and the Percy Islands. We have been the envy of all our friends.”

When considering a pre-owned boat, insurers can be cautious, Tony continued.

“But in this case, Club Marine insurance said they knew the boat and it was impeccable.

“They said we didn’t need a survey, but we went ahead with the survey anyway and the surveyor said the boat has incredible build quality. All structure, plumbing and electrical are all first class. Everything is easily accessed with hatches placed to inspect and service all areas of the boat. It’s been built brilliantly from a servicing perspective.”

Enhancing its close-to-ideal design, Hells Bells underwent a refit in Sydney, adding all new Garmin electronics, the new 254w 96NM Digital Radar and the new forward-facing sonar. The new electronics now monitor Victron Electrical Systems.

“When you cruise the 1,000 nautical miles from Sydney to Far North Queensland, you can encounter a lot of whales along the way, especially during an eight to 10-hour stints,” Tony explained.

“You need to keep a vigilant watch ahead constantly. We have experienced numerous whales breaching directly in front resulting in some radical steering.

“With the Garmin forward facing sonar we can see 100 to 300-feet ahead and much deeper, so it’s worth the investment if you’re embarking on long journeys. We now have the latest electronics and support available in our Whitehaven.”

The new sonar is vital for reef cruising and exploring as well.

“We went to Swains Reefs off Mackay, through into Hardy Lagoon which is only 8-metres wide and very shallow. We can approach at any time and the imagery will give us all the information we need to enter safely.”

Tony and Gaebrielle installed new LED TVs, a ZIP tap for cold, sparkling and hot water at the barbecue, replaced all hydraulic lines on the swim platform and have sanded and treated all the teak, soft furnishings, sun shades in the fly bridge and commissioned a new permanent sunshade over the aft deck.

“We also installed a Victron lithium battery system with twin 8000w charges and 400amp of charging and also using the CAT32 alternators to run the boat on long trips, so now everything runs smoothly on long trips with no restrictions.

“In order to help us run our business while we’re cruising, we installed a new Comset 5G data system, new Satellite KVH V30 with track phone and also the Starlink satellite dish, so we will never be out of range. Then there’s the Yamaha jetski on the back which is great to explore islands fast plus Bruce’s original Avon tender, which we’ve spruced up and used to catch some very large Spanish Mackerel.”

The couple’s main objective is to explore the coastline and further afield in their Whitehaven.

“We’ve been to incredible places where not too many people get to go, like Credlin reef, Orpheus Island and John Brewer Reef. Exploring the south arm of Port Clinton, north Rosslyn Bay, we saw a herd of 20 dugongs in a couple of metres of water using a drone.

“You don’t normally see these beautiful creatures in the wild. We managed to take some incredible shots and create lasting memories.

“We recently spent a lot of time exploring many of the Islands south of Whitsundays to Mackay. St Bees has some great wreck dives and some beautiful beaches.

“Next time, we’re planning to head to Port Douglas via Townsville, which is the pick of the bunch for us – the people, the restaurants, swimming pool, marina, and there’s an amazing dive site called ‘The Museum of underwater art’ at John Brewer Reef with some large built structures and stone sculptures by international artist Jason de Caires Taylor.”

“We’re thrilled and proud to hand on our much-loved Whitehaven,” said Bruce. “We have so many fond memories of family and friends enjoying Komotion. Of course, we were reluctant to part with her, but we have our next Whitehaven in build and we’re looking forward to a new era of cruising with our kids, and now grandkids.”

Located on Marina F Pier at the 2023 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, the Whitehaven Group will present its largest display ever comprising the fully bespoke Whitehaven 6000 flybridge, three Aquila Power Catamarans, including the Australia & NZ boat show premiere of the Aquila 54, and two fantastic Integrity models, among them the all-new Integrity 470 Plus Coastal Edition.

whitehavenmotoryachts.com.au