Tall order

A tantalising mix of traditional and trailblazing, the latest Harbour Classic 40 with the tradition-keeping name Martini is its owner’s vision of the perfect dayboat; delectably distilled for heat-hazed, lazy days on the water.

Written by Jeni Bone
Photography by Whitehaven Yachts

24 February 2025

When it glided onto the scene in 2018, the Harbour Classic 40 from Whitehaven was positioned as the retro- styled entertainer’s dayboat with a nod to the automotive cues and aesthetics of a bygone era, combined with ultra-modern amenities, engineering and propulsion.

Representing two years of R&D, the 12.9-metre motor yacht melded the concepts of New Zealand yacht designer and builder Bill Upfold with the talents of well-known Australian naval architect Misha Merzliakov.

The Whitehaven design team envisioned the HC40 as a vessel for a more intimate, spontaneous yet no less sophisticated style of boating. The first HC40 Tonic acts as a template for aspiring owners to create their own Harbour Classic, whether that’s a 40-footer or larger.

Since 2018, which seems like aeons ago when you put it into a post-pandemic-perspective, 11 Harbour Classic 40s have been built and delivered.

The yacht's design connects the cockpit to the galley, saloon, and helm station for a sociable layout.

Martini prioritises performance, handling, and fuel economy over outright speed.

With the galley-up option, there’s room for a guest cabin, head/shower, and extra benchtop space.

Stepping aboard this HC40, there’s the immediate feeling of a more capacious cruiser.

With a focus on handling and fuel economy, Martini offers both control and cruising capability.

Bifold cockpit doors open up to create a seamless inside-outside space.

The saloon leads down to the comfortable owner’s cabin for a private retreat.

The latest, named Martini, was built for a Sydney family seeking blissful days on the waterways of the Sutherland Shire. They’ve owned various boats over the years and at this stage in their boating lives were keen to spend days and weekends close to home, enjoying water sports as well as onboard entertaining.

Being seasoned boaties, they knew of the Whitehaven brand and its bespoke offering and found themselves drawn to the svelte styling of the Harbour Classic. “We found we mostly day-boated, so there was no need for a large vessel,” the owner relates. “It had to be a boat that was unique and had great character. We inspected a variety of cruisers, each time returning to the Whitehaven Harbour Classic.

“We loved the look, with its stylish lines,” the owner continues, “and at 40 feet it was the perfect size day boat for our family to use on Port Hacking with the option to stay on board for the weekend.

Entertaining is important to us, so the galley-up format and opening rear bifold doors are a great layout for enjoying days on the water with friends.”

The past three HC40s – Soda, Ogopogo and now Martini – have specified the galley-up layout, with the galley to starboard behind the helm with dinette opposite. The beauty of this configuration is more space below decks for accommodation, ensuites and storage, and a more sociable, more practical plan.

Stepping aboard this HC40, there’s the immediate feeling of a more capacious cruiser – a larger motor yacht in compact form. The sizeable swim platform is a safe place to launch water toys and is perfect for the inevitable dive-bombing off the back of the boat. A 1-metre draft means easy access to shallow bays and secluded river reaches.

The cockpit is accessed through a gate on the starboard side. Making full use of the 3.9-metre beam, the aft deck comprises seating for up to eight around a high-low teak table that can convert into a super-cool sunpad. The Kenyon electric grill and sink is more than enough kit for an alfresco fry-up. On this boat, the owners opted for a short roofline, with an awning for shade and privacy when desired.

Glass bifold doors and a hopper window between the cockpit and saloon create an expanded space for seamless flow.

This is a stark difference from her predecessors, such as Tonic, which is moored at the berth beside Martini for convenient comparison. Aboard Tonic, the cockpit bar/ grill backs against the window separating the aft deck from the saloon, and inside the dinette seating backs onto it, leaving a regular doorway-sized entrance into the saloon.

Inside Martini, the galley is positioned along the starboard side extending to the helm seat. It consists of composite benchtops, moulded infinity sink, microwave, induction plate-stove and two-drawer fridge. A 32- inch television folds down neatly from a compartment in the ceiling.

The objective was to achieve as much storage as possible, so there are plenty of cupboards and drawers beneath the sink and stove. Forward, the helm seat is elevated for clear vision and the carbon-fibre dash retains the automotive cues present in the Harbour Classic line since its inception.

Opposite is the L-shaped lounge and impeccably-honed teak table with Whitehaven insignia. Superbly crafted warm walnut cabinetry and stairs inlaid with light holly strips are complemented by teak-look vinyl flooring – low-maintenance, durable and indiscernible from the real thing.

“This is their beach house on the water,” comments Mandy Wright, Brand Manager at Whitehaven. “It had to be comfortable, laid- back and easy to look after.

“The interior finishes, upholstery, timber joinery and fridges on Martini are all standard, which makes the Harbour Classic a competitive package. The owners specified the hull colour and upgraded the cockpit table, flooring, Dockmate controller and engine to give Martini a unique character.

“The beauty of the Harbour Classic,” she continues, “is you can take features from previous boats then add features from your wish list and make it your own.”

Martini delivers a sprightly 23 knots—perfect for day or weekend blasts.

Continuing the fuss-free philosophy of this boat, the windows are tinted and there are no blinds. A defining feature aboard Martini is the open companionway to the below-deck zone. This adds to the feeling of space and lets in natural light from the windscreen above.

In the section to port where the galley is located on HC40s with the galley-down format, the owners have opted for a benchtop and cabinets. Neat oval windows and a skylight, as well as the matching skylight in the ensuite, let the sunlight stream in.

The head has all the hallmarks of Whitehaven nous for optimising form and function, with benchtop, basin, cabinet and, most importantly, a full-height shower with a bench seat – as luxurious as any Whitehaven, only scaled to suit the space.

The main cabin has a door, rather than the open version of Tonic. The V-berth is far from being cramped or dark thanks to the ingenuity of the designers who’ve optimised every square centimetre. The ambience is enhanced by the skylight hatch above the bed, a reading light on each side of the queen bed, and subtle LED lighting concealed in the ceiling liners.

The second berth is about as cosy as a kid could wish for – I couldn’t help myself and sprang inside! Surprisingly spacious, the double bed could accommodate an adult couple overnight. At the foot of the bed is storage on one side and access to the engine room on the other.

The engine, upgraded from standard single Volvo Penta D6 480 horsepower to a Cummins QSB 6.7 480 horsepower, can also be accessed via a hatch in the cockpit floor.

The Harbour Classic wasn’t devised for speed – rather performance, handling and fuel economy were the non-negotiable prerequisites. Still, zipping between anchorages or back home in a hurry is a cinch with a top speed of 24 knots. With the Cummins engine and an 800-litre fuel capacity, this Harbour Classic 40 has a 400-nautical-mile range at 8 knots. Owners can choose to install engines up to 580 horsepower if they feel the need for even more speed.

Deck plan for upper and lower decks on the Harbour Classic 40.

Martini’s owners are counting the days until handover, dreaming of fair weather to get out on the water and learn the intricacies of their bespoke boat. “There’s nothing as relaxing as being on the water,” says the owner, who’s looking forward to using the onboard barbecue and savouring the warm summer days that so deserve long lunches that spill into evenings spent kicking back with an aperitif.

“Our plans are to have many fun days and weekends on board,” he enthuses. “We’ll take each day as it comes, exploring the local waterways, mainly day-boating on Port Hacking with day or weekend trips to Sydney Harbour and Pittwater.

“Let’s hope that weekends this summer will be great boating weather and we can get adventurous! Our kids are into boating and water sports, so we expect to have a few toys and jetskis tied up too. Martini will be a small mothership.”

The family of five, including children aged 15, 13 and five, are ecstatic with the HC40 they’ve designed to fit their boating lifestyle. “We all love it,” the owner continues. “And we’re excited to be back on the water – it ticks all the boxes for a great family day out.”

As sophisticated and refreshing as its namesake, Martini is heir to the enhancements that have been gleaned over previous HC40 incarnations, and the input of her owners. As for the quirky name, the owners explain, “In light of previous Harbour Classics, we felt Martini continued the tradition.