The Cannes Yachting Festival, one of the most important nautical events in Europe, will return to Vieux Port and Port Canto from 7 to 12 September 2021. After the cancelation of the 2020 edition of the festival due to coronavirus, the festival will be opening this year’s long-awaited yachting season.
The most eagerly awaited event for all European professionals and enthusiasts will feature 560 boats of all types - 150 of which will be world premieres - and 430 registered exhibitors. The organisers have confirmed that a series of sanitary measures that comply with the French government’s standards will be implemented to facilitate access to the two harbours and to ensure the show’s smooth running during its 6-day-celebration.
In a world of luxury and elegance, the Cannes Yachting Festival will host an impressive range of boats from 3 to 43 metres in length: sailing and motor, monohulls and multihulls, rigid and semi-rigid inflatables, all spread between the two main harbours of the glamourous French city. All participants will have the opportunity to visit the stands of the main brands in the nautical industry and their latest creations in a pleasant and professional atmosphere.
Motorboats on display in Vieux Port in Cannes. Photo: cannesyachtingfestival.com
Vieux Port Motorboat Exhibition
Vieux Port or “Old Harbour” in English, one of the oldest harbours in all the French Riviera, is the historic location of the motorboat exhibition, presented by the best European and international shipyards. This year there will be 450 boats on show between 5 and 45 metres in length.
Inside the harbour there will be various zones dedicated to particular types of boats, including a special area for multihulls where 15 will be on display. On shore, there will be an area for outboard and inboard motors to offer better visibility to smaller engine manufacturing companies.
New to the festival is a sea trial zone located outside the exhibition area to ensure the safety of exhibitors and guests. Eco-conscious boaters will also be able to enjoy the new zone dedicated solely to electric and hybrid boats.
Located in the Palais des Festivals du Vieux Port, in an elegant and refined setting, you will find the Luxury Gallery, a space which allows you to discover renowned brands as well as lesser known players offering exceptional products and unique know-how. You can expect to see luxury brands from a wide range of sectors such as: watchmaking, jewellery and art.
Boats docked in Port Canto in Cannes, France. Photo: cannes.com
Port Canto: The Latest In Sailing
Port Canto will be showcasing 108 sailing boats between 10 to 35 metres in length, including 20 world premieres. Some 400 metres of quayside will be dedicated to monohulls, while a further 450 metres will house a wide range of multihulls. In addition to these sailing yachts, this year Port Canto will be displaying around 50 second-hand yachts, all over 22 metres in length, with the opportunity to discover the models and meet the crews. Brokers will accompany potential buyers to help them choose and buy the boat that suits them best. This area will be shared with the 'Nautical Toys' area which was first introduced in 2018 and is dedicated to exhibiting a wide variety of marine equipment for sailing and nautical activities, namely water sports. The nautical toy sector is booming; toys for the young and old alike have become indispensable equipment on yachts. Surfboards, longboards and jet skis are just a few examples of toys that bring pleasure and entertainment.
New for 2021
The main new feature this year is the arrangement of the boats: all the yachts will be exhibited in Port Canto, while the powerboats will occupy the free space created in the original location of the Vieux Port. The brokerage sector, on the other hand, will remain in Port Canto. The two sites are connected by regular sea shuttles and buses departing every 15 minutes. Visitors will only need to show their ticket to access these free services. Organisers say the change in positioning will provide 1,000 metres more berthing space than in previous editions, an increase of 7% on 2018.
New Models
Here we will give you a rundown of the boats that some of the most prestigious brands in the sector will be launching during the festival.Astondoa AS5
AS5 is the new motor yacht by Spanish shipyard, Astondoa.
The AS5 is the new jewel of the Spanish shipard, Astondoa. This new yacht has been designed to satisfy lovers of luxurious, contemporary and sporty yachts within the 18-metre category. It offers many different configurations that allow the owner to adapt it to their tastes and preferences. You can opt for a hardtop version for greater elegance and practicality, or a sportier version without a hardtop.
Azimut 53
The sleek new motor yacht by Azimut.
Once again, the Azimut shipyard has successfully created a cruising yacht that asserts its personality, combining elegance and luxury with sporty details. Azimut has produced a truly unique yacht that offers large spaces on the flybridge and on the lower deck. Surprising details in the interior and exterior make this unit a unique model for lovers of luxury cruising.
Beneteau GT45
The sporty GT45 by the famous French brand. Image: Beneteau.com
The Beneteau GT45 has a high-performance sporty hull whilst maintaining elegant details. The hardtop and large windows modernise the boat's lines and allow plenty of natural light to enter the interior. A large U-shaped bench allows you to spend pleasant moments of relaxation with friends and family, and the integrated concealed television will enrich your moments of relaxation on board. With its sporty look and performance on the water, the Gran Turismo 45 is ideal for hospitality and conviviality. The large aft sundeck and spacious U-shaped cockpit are an ideal place to socialise with guests.
Grand Banks 54
GB54 combines a classical style with modern technology.Image: Grandbank.com
GB54 is a perfect fusion of classic style and modern technology. Her elegant form is sculpted by over sixty years of experience in building long distance luxury cruisers. Her class-leading performance and efficiency are based on a hull inspired by the underwater geometry of ocean racing yachts. In addition, the ingenuity of its ergonomics makes the GB54 exceptionally light and spacious, yet easy to handle and manage by one or two people.
Riva 76 Perseo Super
Riva have brought out an improved version of their most popular sports boat. Image: Rivayacht.com
The most popular Riva sports boat of recent years offers new aesthetic solutions combined with an unprecedented design and functional features for an even sportier, elegant and high-performance yacht. Improving a masterpiece of incredible success and durability is a challenge that only Riva can take on and overcome, thanks to an aesthetic and technological development effort that strikes a perfect balance between past, present and future.
Extra 96
This boat will make its premiere at the 2021 CannesYachting Festival. Image: Extrayachts.com
The Extra 96 will be unveiled as a world premiere at the 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival. The new Extra Yachts model stands out for its unique personality, complemented by unusual lines, impressive volumes and an innovative concept of use. The large uninterrupted windows offer the magical feeling of being inside a large glass dome and highlight the refined play of contrasts between the smooth white fibreglass surfaces and the elegant dark windows.
If you’re heading to the Cannes Festival next week, be sure to come and see us at Jetee 154 in Vieux Port. We will be representing all the Boats Group portals, including Boats and Outboards, Yacht World, Annonces du Bateau, Cosas de Barcos and Botentekoop.
Main Image: Cannes.com