The 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival was described by a number of exhibitors as “the best of recent years”.  IBI reports on one of the most important events on the European boat show calendar where leading boatbuilders debut their new models for the season.

The 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival – its 41st edition – was described by a number of exhibitors as “the best of recent years”. 

The kick-off event of Europe’s autumn show season appears to have ticked the right boxes, with most exhibitors reporting to IBI that they had either signed up business or had strong leads to follow up after the show. Leading players such as Azimut-Benetti, the Ferretti Group and Sanlorenzo, to name just three, all confirmed good sales.

The event attracted 542 exhibitors, of which 58% were foreign, and these comprised 40% boat manufacturers and importers, and the other 60% covered everything else. There were around 640 boats ranging from 2.4m-50m (8ft-164ft). Of the total, 219 were new boats and yachts, of which 122 were world premieres. There were 150 yachts over 20m (66ft) in length.

While motor craft dominated, there were 110 sailing yachts accounting for 17% of the total, including 46 multihulls, of which 13 were motor-powered.

Port Pierre Canto hosted the brokerage yachts for sale or charter, with 46 yachts up to around 50m on display. Most of the brokers interviewed by IBI were pleased with the results, with comments such as: “The added efforts that the organisers have put into the shuttles have paid off very well.”

Several brokers said they had received offers on superyachts for sale, plus some sign-ups for charters.

This year Port Canto also hosted the nautical ‘toy’ exhibits as a lead-in to the much larger change that will be made in 2019, with all sailing yachts and multihulls moving to this side of the bay. This change followed a major review of the show layout initiated last year in response to meeting the growing number of yachts wanting to be exhibited and the growing shortage of space at the Vieux Port.

Under the new arrangement, the Vieux Port will be completely dedicated to motorboats and yachts and Port Canto will have the brokerage yachts, sailing monohulls, multihulls and toys. To cope with this, free shuttle services via water and land will be increased.