on 1 Jul 2021
One of the world's biggest yacht shows returns with 150 world premieres
The 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival is returning this September after its hiatus in 2020 due to Covid-19.
On July 1, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled that RX France (formerly known as Reed Expositions France) will continue to manage the Cannes Yachting Festival until 2041, a decision that follows five years of legal wrangling over management rights between the French Boating Industry Federation and RX France.
Show organisers have released the line up of yachts on display, including the list of world premières that will be at this year’s show, from September 7 to 12.
The show will welcome 560 new boats, ranging in size from three to 45 metres, including monohulls and multihulls. The Vieux Port is slated for motor yachts while Port Canto will exhibit sailing yachts. Of the yachts on display, 150 will be making their world première. Over 400 exhibitors are expected.
Among the yachts making their première will be the Sunreef 100 Power, the Absolute 60 Fly, The Bali 4.2 Catamaran, the Bluegame BG72, the Ferretti Yacht 1000, the MY 4.S power cat from Fountaine Pajot, the Prestige 690, the Pershing 6X and the Riva 68 Diable.
The 2021 Cannes Yachting Festival will feature a new innovation space in Port Canto showcasing tech start-ups working in the marine and yachting sector. There is also a dedicated space this year for all-electric and hybrid yacht builders. Power catamarans are becoming a major topic of discussion and this year’s show in Cannes also has dedicated space for this upcoming form of yachting.
This year’s event marks a return to the regular yacht show calendar, which was badly disrupted in 2020 during the “second wave” of Covid-19 infections and lockdowns that started in France last autumn. As of end of June, France’s infection rate is down to levels last seen in August 2020 and vaccination rates have picked up speed.
Show organisers have said that Face masks will be mandatory for trade show participants, service providers and show employees. Face mask vending machines will be on the exhibition premises. There will also be renewed focus on contactless payment systems and digital ID systems, as well as making sure there are limits on crowd sizes in various areas to ensure guest safety.
The Cannes Yachting Festival is one of the key events on the international yachting calendar, with over 50,000 visitors from around the world in attendance. It marks the start of the autumn European boat show season. International visitors arrive at Nice airport, which has a helicopter shuttle service direct to the show site. Limousine transfers can also be arranged via the show organiser website.