This will be the first international boat show to reopen to the public. The Cannes Yachting Festival is making waves this year not just for the exclusive quality of its offerings, but also for signs of great dynamism, restarting the sector with a new “green” breakthrough.
The 2021 edition will commence on Tuesday 7 September, and continue for 6 consecutive days. The parade at the Croisette features about 600 vessels just released by the most prestigious French and international shipyards.
Cannes Yachting Festival © Abracadabra Studios
From small boats to large yachts, the range of displays includes sailboats (over 110 monohull and multihull models), motor boats, new units and large yachts offered by brokers, reaching lengths of up to 50 meters. Almost 140 world debuts are expected, including a new yacht by Sanlorenzo, the 22XP and 26XP by Numarine, a 40m by Baglietto, the Riva 76′ Perseo Super, the Azimut53, the BG72 from Bluegame, the Cayman Yachts 400 WA, the Pardo Endurance 60 by Cantiere del Pardo and the Ferretti Yacht 780.
Cannes Yachting Festival, Brokerage Space © Abracadabra Studios
Another first for this 2021 iteration is the focus on sustainability, reflected in environmental awareness that is now developing in the nautical sector, as elsewhere: the challenge is to launch an ecological transition of yachting, not unlike what has happened in the auto industry.
The Festival thus offers a “green” itinerary to focus on exhibitors (over 80 of them) that are developing and presenting ecological concepts. In a completely new approach, an area of the Vieux Port has been set aside only for 100% electric and hybrid boats, with about a dozen models ranging from 8 to 12 meters.
New features of the 2021 festival have to do with organizational aspects, with the goal of total safety and security: tickets are sold only online (requiring advance registration), and visitors will have to show valid health certification, while using masks in all the spaces of the fair (outdoors and indoors).
Cannes Yachting Festival, Vieux Port © Abracadabra Studios
Some aspects of the previous edition have survived, such as the organization by boat type: motor boats will be shown at the Vieux Port, while sailboats will dock at the Port Canto; the Luxury Gallery will be at the Vieux Port, while the “Yacht Brokerage & Charter” space, completed by a “Toys” area, will be at the other side of the Croisette, at Port Canto.
