Two weeks until the Cannes Yachting Festival opens

2023 Cannes Yachting Festival opens a new marina in the heart of the Vieux Port for small 8- and 12-metre motorboats © Cannes Yachting Festival

In two weeks, the Vieux Port and Port Canto will host the 2023 edition of the Cannes Yachting Festival. Professionals and enthusiasts will be able to admire more than 700 boats this year, which have just left the most prestigious French and international shipyards.

The Festival will open on Tuesday 12 September at 10am for 6 exceptional days. The most beautiful gems in motor and sailing technology, the latest nautical equipment, the most high-end services and the brand-new marina with small motorboats from 8 meters will be revealed for visitors' greatest enjoyment.

"With two weeks to go until the Festival opens, we can't wait to see our visitors and exhibitors. The Festival build started on 14 August. Everything is going well, the pontoons and tents are being set up to accommodate the boats and stands, thanks to the support of our partners and service providers," said Festival Director Sylvie Ernoult, before adding: "As has been the case every year, the Cannes Yachting Festival gets the season under way by unveiling an extremely eclectic offer. We are pleased to welcome 610 exhibitors and nearly 700 boats - one of our record - which includes 130 making their world debuts. Our visitors will be able to see the crème de la crème of the marine industry with not only the most famous shipyards and equipment manufacturers, but also newcomers to the industry, small companies or start-ups, who come to present their creations."

As is the case every year, the Festival will be organised between the Vieux Port and Port Canto with motor boats and their equipment on one side, as well as the Luxury Gallery, a niche sector devoted to luxury and lifestyle; and the sailing world on the other, with 120 new monohull and multihull boats, the brokerage sector with around fifty second-hand boats from 22 metres long, and the water toys/toys area visitors appreciate so much.

From one end of the Croisette to the other, all that is displayed at the Festival is full of discoveries. The "Start-up Village", which was created in partnership with Mer Angels and BNP Paris Banque Privée, is not to be missed either and is bringing together a dozen innovative start-ups from the marine industry for the third year running.

As shipyards and equipment manufacturers are slowly but surely setting a course towards ecology and devoting a significant part of their budget to research and development, the increasing amount of eco-efficient innovations in the industry that respect the environment are promoted through the "Green Route" route, which is marked out by special signage to guide visitors.

Fully online ticket sales

For the 3rd year running, the Yachting Festival ticket desk will be fully digital; no tickets will be sold at the Festival entrances. Visitors, guests, professionals and journalists are invited to get their access badge before arriving. They must show it either printed out or on their smartphone.

Exceptional partners

For the occasion of the Cannes Yachting Festival 2023, the Louis Roederer Champagne house will be serving its "Collection" cuvée in the Festival's VIP areas, which have been decorated by Roche-Bobois. For the third year running Mer Angels and BNP Paribas Banque Privée are the official sponsors of the "Start-up Village" dedicated to intelligent and eco-friendly start-ups in the marine sector. The famous sail manufacturer North Sails is providing the uniforms for the Festival teams from its new clothing collections, whereas the By My Car Group is providing the official car service.

Three new partners will be present for the first time: the private aviation company Textron Aviation, the Fathom® company which will present its e-Power System (an integrated lithium-ion auxiliary power management system), and Mercury, which is supplying the 8 motors for the traversantes.

And not forgetting loyal partners: Wajer Yachts, Pantaenius, Pixelight and Yamaha, which have been contributing their specialist expertise to and involved in the Festival organisation for many years.

Shuttles between the two ports

All visitors and exhibitors can use the sea shuttle service which connects the two ports, with 3 boarding points in the Vieux Port and 2 points in Port Canto. Departures are approximately every 15 minutes. Exhibitors (the full list of which can be seen here) are gradually revealing their new products on the Yachting Festival website.