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.