Designed to the meticulous specifications of its experienced owners, the first Whitehaven 6500 Coupé is taking shape and promises to emerge as a brilliant example of the pinnacle of bespoke boatbuilding.
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The first Whitehaven 6500 is under construction – the product of inspired collaboration between owners and award-winning designer, Misha Merzliakov.
Misha has worked with Whitehaven for close to a decade. The clients are company co-founders and directors, clearly, advocates and afficionados of the Whitehaven brand.
They approached Misha to design their next ‘dream boat’, having sold their Whitehaven 7000 Flybridge, Komotion – the original Whitehaven built in 2011 – which is now cruising the Whitsundays as Hell’s Bells.
“We’re older and wiser now,” they quipped. “The 6500 was conceived to include all the features, conveniences and comforts of all the boats we’ve owned over the years. And Misha was the one we entrusted with our ideas.”
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For his part, Misha was extremely flattered to be asked to work on this special boat, and worked closely with the couple to solidify the design brief, and eventually, selecting fittings and materials from all over the world.
According to Misha, “Their vision is to stretch Whitehaven’s capabilities and elevate every aspect of the design.
“They loved the Coupé 6100 Euro edition, and they wanted to evolve that to a step above. There are innovative exterior features they wanted to try that still had to look good and blend seamlessly into the profile of the vessel. Inside, it had to be as well laid out and visually appealing as any European motor yacht, and take it up a notch.
“This is the future for Whitehaven. The aim is to expand it, lengthen its stride – which has been a thrill and a challenge.”
The 20-plus-metre, new three-cabin, three-ensuite 6500 was designed to suit a multi-generational family who love entertaining, whether that’s close to their home port of Sydney Harbour, or cruising the east coast to the Whitsundays. Added weather protection was a paramount consideration.
“A noteworthy feature, and the biggest design challenge, is the extended roof line,” Misha continued.
“I had to really think about where the exterior design would end up – almost like a BMW or Volkswagen shooting brake,” he said, referring to vehicles that combine the practicality of a wagon with the sporty aesthetic of a coupé.
“This concept is seeing a resurgence in the automotive industry as practicality is influencing the customer mindset.
For the 6500, it was a battle to balance function and form – to make it work and look beautiful. It had to be harmonious and stand the test of time – nothing jarring or faddish. It was very difficult to get right and we went through many iterations to create enough deck coverage without compromising the lines.”
The result is a longer roofline plus a retractable shade to ensure all-weather usage of the aft deck, come rain, hail, wind or intense sunshine.
Other exterior features include the latest generation 6000 series hull windows and mast for head-turning appeal, ergonomic helm and its stable, ocean-going hull which is a Whitehaven hallmark.
Inside, there has been considerable expert attention applied to the interior design – the creative vision of the owners, who spent many months sourcing and compiling swatches, samples, products and finish schedules to ensure a cohesive, harmonious end result. The aim was to bring to life an inspired concept and elevate the Whitehaven offering beyond anything that had preceded this truly unique vessel.
“It is destined to be something extraordinary,” Misha stated. “The objective is to envelope guests and stimulate all the senses with understated luxury through a neutral colour palette, high-quality materials and the use of various textures. Whitehaven Euro flourishes are visible in the materials, colours, finishes and lighting.”
Another crucial attribute was the social and safety consideration of single-level living. A single level sedan motor yacht appeals to owners living in canal estates or on waterways with low bridge clearances above sea level.
The well-appointed main deck features a spacious galley for entertaining and long voyages. Details such as hidden Italian door hardware and pared back cabinetry achieve a clean, seamless and contemporary look.
Layered lighting is key. “Lighting underpins the ambience, to make it cosy, welcoming and appear more spacious,” Misha stated. “Lighting design is a passion for me, and I try to bring more elegance and purpose to the lighting design each yacht we work on. We use various techniques and fittings to achieve this.”
Standing as testament to the Whitehaven ethos of fully custom-crafted motor yachts to fulfil their owners’ boating ambitions, the Whitehaven 6500 Coupé is being brought to life under the direction of Production Manager, Ryan Hanson, who spends much of his time at the production facility overseeing each and every step in construction.
The Whitehaven offering of meticulous craftsmanship and customisation sets it apart from competitors, Misha asserted. “Simply importing a European boat doesn’t cut it for some adventurers.
“Australia’s climate is harsher than Europe and Australian boats have to travel further and through more blue water to cruising grounds than their Mediterranean counterparts. This drives certain design decisions which this marvellous Coupé embodies in spades.”
With all the pre-build planning, meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail in construction, this exceptional Whitehaven will come on the market in time for the 2025 summer boating season.
Buying this Whitehaven 6500 Coupé is tantamount to purchasing Enzo’s own motor car. Nothing could be added to improve it. In contrast to production boats, it has been built with superior construction techniques, backup systems and fail-safes. Indeed, Whitehavens are heirloom boats that will stand the test of time for generations.
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