Whitehaven 6000 Coupe Review

The brief for the new Aussie-designed Whitehaven 6000 Coupe was to create a luxury motor yacht that was soft in the bow, and one which was also dry, but with inherent stability. The Whitehaven 6000 Coupe blends sporty performance with an ultra-modern fitout and the single-level living is just icing on the cake.

Australian-owned and locally-designed, the Whitehaven 6000 Coupe is built in Taiwan by well-regarded yard New Ocean Yachts. But as astute observers of the boatbuilding game would confirm, that “made in Taiwan” tag carries none of the stigma it might have been associated with 10 or 15
years ago.

As evidenced at last year’s Taiwan International Boat Show, the little island is now a major player and a confirmed powerhouse in the world of yacht production. Horizon, Ocean Alexander, Nordhavn and Belize all build thoughtfully-conceived, high-quality vessels in Taiwan that match the finest European yards. You can now add Whitehaven to that list.

Lose the flybridge

While approaching the larger end of what can comfortably be handled by an experienced husband-wife team, the 60ft mark is also a popular choice for owners stepping up from 45-50ft cruisers and it’s this market sector Whitehaven has chosen to target.

The inclusion of an aft control station with Twin Disc’s intuitive Express Joystick System (EJS) makes for stress-free docking. Should the skipper stay at the helm, sliding windows make it easy to communicate with whoever is picking up the lines, as well as assisting vision down the wide side decks.

What the Whitehaven 6000 Coupe offers over the Flybridge really comes down to personal choice regarding your favoured boating style. What you can count on is a more sporting, low-slung profile and the ease of single-level living.

By losing that flybridge deck and the accompanying saving in weight (the Coupe displaces six tons less than the Flybridge), the result is exciting on-water performance. Common among the two boats is a truly outstanding interior, inspired by ingenious use of space and a stirring blend of materials.

Layout

Entering through the sliding stainless rear doors, you meet the welcoming spaces of the saloon where white leather couches stand out against light American oak fixtures and darker wenge wood highlights.

These are set against an assortment of fabric wall panels and it’s difficult to traverse this yacht without succumbing to the temptation to run your hands over the variety of textures on show.

The couch sits opposite an island bench, compete with handrail for navigating the space in a seaway. Besides providing storage beneath, this galley podium makes a terrific spot to serve food while entertaining, furthering the notion that you’re visiting someone’s cleverly designed home, rather than a hardy bluewater cruising yacht (which she also is).

Gone are the days of tucking a dark, poorly equipped galley below decks. The modern yacht chef (who in most cases is also the owner) demands to be part of the action and rightfully so. Thoughtful integration of this galley along the starboard side creates a seamless social flow from the aft deck right through to the helm. Large groups will mingle effortlessly throughout this yacht, whether she’s hosting fellow sailors at anchor or accommodating buzzing cocktail parties on the dock.

The chef also enjoys uninterrupted views from enormous picture windows and their labours will be made easy with quality Fisher and Paykel appliances, plus a Bosch cooktop and ultra-modern graphite sink.

Helm and galley

Forward of the galley is a matte teak dining table and U-shaped couch opposite the helm.

The custom helm chairs are a standout here. The Whitehaven team sent their preferred fabric all the way to Italy, where manufacturer Besenzoni inlaid the helm seats so they would match the finished dash. Outrageously cool.

Front and centre at the helm is a pair of 15in Raymarine eS Series HybridTouch screens to cover all your navigational requirements. Below the sliding window, a second docking joystick syncs both thrusters with the engines when it’s time to bring the big girl alongside the dock.

When it’s time to head for the horizon, you reach for that glossy Twin Disc throttle. Pop it forward and a pair of MTU S60 engines roar to life, thrusting the Coupe seaward with ease, courtesy of 825hp per side.

Cabins

When the sun finally sinks too low and it’s time to seek some rest, the downstairs accommodation beckons. A master stateroom, VIP double and twin bunks easily cater for six overnight, and extra pint-sized guests could certainly curl up on any of the wide couches.

The textured fabrics and headliners continue below, complemented by a chunky woven carpet that extends back from the VIP with its queen island bed in the bow.

Both guest cabins share access to a corridor bathroom which features attractive matte tiles in the shower recess and a teak floor grate.

Wide windows in the Whitehaven’s hull flood the master cabin with natural light, where a king-size bed sits along the centreline with a daybed/couch on starboard.

On portside, a desk opens to reveal a neat vanity mirror for the girls, and the aforementioned windows include opening portlights that will ensure time spent below decks is supplemented by lots of fresh air.

Engine room

Standing height in the engine room (even for those over 6ft), means the Whitehaven 6000 Coupe has plenty of volume for mechanically-minded owners to get amongst their machinery. There’s even a corner set aside near the stern door for a stainless work bench, plus a bench vice opposite. This would also make a top fish cleaning station, complete with sink, if you could bring yourself to fish from this beauty.

Outside the engine room on the swimplatform is another surprise. At the touch of a button, the lazarette door swings up to reveal a hidden tender garage, large enough to fit a 3.2m centre console – in this case an AB RIB with a 20hp Honda.

Launch and retrieval is a piece of cake, using a flip-down stainless roller and an electric winch.

It’s a particularly elegant solution to the problem of dinghy stowage and one which avoids davits or chocks, keeping the swimplatform clear for ...  swimming.

On the water

As we pushed clear of the murky Seaway in search of blue water for our rendezvous with the chopper, the Whitehaven was solid and unhurried through the swells.

I enjoyed that curious feeling common to powerful yachts, where it feels like you’re travelling much more slowly than the instruments might reveal.

A lazy roll across the top of a few leftover swells from the recent storms, secure and stable in my helm seat, I glanced to down to pour on a bit more power, and ... oh, we’re already doing 25kts.

Besides being a competent entertainer, the Whitehaven 6000 Coupe also boasts long legs for the adventurous owner, via 5500lt fuel tanks.

At cruising speeds this will see a potential range approaching 1000nm. So not only are the Whitsundays and the Kimberley within reach for those with itchy feet, even New Zealand and Fiji begin to loom as possible holiday destinations.

The Trade-A-Boat verdict

You could, in fact, argue the whole of the Whitehaven 6000 Coupe is designed to make the most of the bountiful fresh air and celebrated waterways that one might find near her namesake beach in Queensland.

That’s not to say the Whitehaven couldn’t cut it in Melbourne or Tassie. But for me, this very modern, social luxury yacht just screams fun in the sun.

Whitehaven 6000 Coupe specs

Whitehaven 6000 Coupe price: $2,296,051 (price as tested)

OPTIONS FITTED

Electric rear awning, AB tender and 20hp Honda, electronics package, underwater lights, flip-down TV to cockpit and teak cockpit chairs.

PRICED FROM

$2,218,386

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Deep-vee monohull

LENGTH 19.1m

BEAM 5.33m

DRAFT 1.3m

WEIGHT 29,500kg

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE (NIGHT) 6-8

FUEL 5500lt

WATER 800lt

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL MTU S60 marine engines

TYPE Inline six-cylinder marine diesel engines

RATED HP 2x 825hp

DISPLACEMENT 14lt (each)

PROPELLERS Veem five-blade

MORE INFORMATION

Whitehaven Motor Yachts

PO Box 751, Main Beach, QLD, 4217

Phone 07 3036 0787

Web whitehavenmotoryachts.com.au