With works on the Vieux Port underway, organisers announce redesign of exhibition spaces and Port Canto

The 47th edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival – Europe’s largest in-water boat show and the traditional kick start to the boating season in the northern hemisphere – is back from September 10-15, featuring a number of key changes to its layout and format.

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With the works on the Vieux Port underway, organisers have redesigned certain areas to replace them with other different and innovative spaces, such as the creation of a new large marina in Port Canto

From the Vieux Port to Port Canto, the show, which benefits from a new marina covering 2,000 m2, will bring together the best of what the international boating sector offers and feature more than 160 new products and world previews. 600 exhibitors from all over the world will be presenting almost 700 monohull, multihull, rigid, semi-rigid, new or previously owned sail and motor boats from 5 to 50 metres long, alongside a host of the latest-generation equipment.

New show configuration

New for this year Port Canto, with its new Marina dedicated to Power Boats, will be almost equal in size to the Vieux Port in terms of the number of boats on display. Almost 350 boats will be exhibited each side of the Croisette. For the first time, visitors will be able to go all the way round Port Canto, in a 2.5 km loop. The port will offer an even clearer and simplified tour with virtually a quay, or a large area, dedicated to a particular type of boat. Located between the Sailing and Yacht Brokerage & Toys areas that have been accommodated in Port Canto for several years, the new area dedicated to power boats will cover around 2,000m2 and provide more than 300m of linear quayside to present 170 motor boats (140 in-water and thirty ashore), with rigid or semi- rigid hulls. A selection of outboard engines suitable for these boat sizes will also be presented next to the boats.

Port Canto will also be exhibiting 120 new sail boats over 10 metres long and around 50 previously-owned large yachts from 24 metres long, exhibited respectively in the Sailing and Yacht Brokerage areas. Several traversantes (pontoons with a motorised central part) will enable visitors to go from one area to the other and small motor boats to go out for sea trials from time to time.

The new Power Boat Marina will accommodate a new dining area with almost 130 tables with a view looking out at the boats on display. The new VIP Club, located on the roof of the Harbour Master’s Office and furnished by Roche Bobois, a loyal partner of the exhibition, will give visitors a 180-degree view of all of Port Canto.

Almost 60 exhibitors will be present in the Power Boat Marina.

In the heart of the city, the Vieux Port will feature some 350 new boats in-water from 10 to 50 metres long – alongside equipment manufacturers and service companies. Large in- water yachts will be moored in their usual locations at the Jetée and the Super Yachts Extension.

Port Canto changes

Like Port Canto, the Vieux Port will also be subject to new arrangements:

  • The main entrance will be moved next to the famous steps film stars walk up during the Film Festival and near the Croisette.
  • The engine manufacturers that equip the mega yachts can be seen along the beach opposite the Palais. They will introduce new exhibition structures.
  • A new entrance will be opened at the heart of the Pantiero (replacing the one at Quai Max Laubeuf). This entrance will be accessible to visitors, journalists and exhibitors.

“2024 represents a year of adaptation and new opportunities for the Cannes Yachting Festival. With the works on the Vieux Port underway, we have redesigned the organisation of certain areas to replace them with other different and innovative spaces, such as the creation of a new large marina in Port Canto. The exhibition teams have risen to the challenge, and I am very enthusiastic and proud of the next edition we will be offering our exhibitors and visitors. Once again the Cannes Yachting Festival will be a magnificent setting for all these jewels of the seas and will highlight the unique craftsmanship and experts in boat building,” explains Sylvie Ernoult, director of the Cannes Yachting Festival, continuing: “As is the case every year, it will be extremely easy and fast to get around, with the option of going from one port to the other thanks to free sea shuttles.“

New Innovation route

This year the Cannes Yachting Festival will also be enriched with an “Innovation Route”, aimed at promoting innovations that convey a break from nautical technology and are environmentally-friendly: engines, propulsion, waste management, end-of-life, eco-design, optimisation, innovative materials, services… This year, all the projects and initiatives implemented to support a more sustainable industry will be highlighted with special signage.

“Like all the others, the marine industry cannot avoid environmental challenges, and has understood that it has to evolve to meet the sector’s decarbonisation needs and the new requirements of boaters. It seemed vital to us to make our contribution to the effort by recognising the efforts our exhibitors are making and the energy they are putting into building the future of the nautical sector. Work on composites, recyclable resins, more respectful engines, but also design for aerodynamics or connectivity for better efficiency… there are certainly lots of initiatives! We are happy to showcase them, as our goal for all is to preserve our seas and oceans, especially for future generations,” concludes Sylvie Ernoult, director of the Cannes Yachting Festival.

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