The Cannes Yachting Festival is more than a boat show, it is a story about people and the sea
In the kaleidoscope of luxury yachts and prestigious names from the nautical industry, Sylvie Ernoult stands as an excellent maestro, skilfully conducting the orchestra of the Cannes Yachting Festival. Her tireless dedication and innovative approach transform this festival into something more than an exhibition – into a symphony of innovation and tradition.
In an exclusive interview, Ernoult sheds light on how the organization of the festival works from the inside, from coordinating all aspects of the event to preserving nautical culture for future generations. Her perspective provides insight into how the festival is shaping its future and highlights its key role in preserving rich maritime heritage
NP: The Cannes Yachting Festival proudly presents itself as the most important event in the world of yachting. What do you think makes it so special, and how have you managed to maintain its status over all these years?
The Cannes Yachting Festival is not the largest boat show in the world, but we are proud to be Europe’s largest in-water show and the inaugural event of the yachting season! For 47 years, we have been working to bring our visitors (professionals and the general public) the best of the international motor, sail, monohull, multihull, rigid or semi-rigid hull boat offer from the Vieux Port to Port Canto, from one end to the other of the famous Croisette.This year, we are expecting 55,000 visitors from all over the world to visit and see the 700 boats on display and more than 600 exhibitors.
What makes the Cannes Yachting Festival so special? First of all, I would say that as the first boat show in the yachting season, we have the honour of hosting almost 140 world premieres each year; all the major players in the yachting industry meet in Cannes to exhibit their new products for our visiting enthusiasts! Secondly, Cannes is an extraordinary setting for accommodating these hundreds of boats in water. Being by the water, under the sunshine of the French Riviera, in both ports of Cannes, are all features that make an exceptional setting and the best conditions for admiring so many jewels of the sea. And finally, I’ll say that our visitors are particularly sensitive to the eclectic nature of the show with an offer that has boats of all sizes from 5 to 50 metres long, the latest boating equipment and numerous innovations and services.
Our challenge every year is to make this show even more attractive by constantly changing, and making the visitor circuit and quality of reception better so that each visitor (professionals, those who are just curious, those passionate about the sea, experienced enthusiasts or newcomers) can enjoy rediscovering the show from one year to the next and find the boat or equipment of their dreams.
Secondly, we are open to new “product” and societal trends to integrate them as best as possible into the show, as shown this year in creating an Innovation Route to promote innovations that convey a break from nautical and are environmentally-friendly.
NP: What strategies have been successful in keeping visitor quality high?
To maintain a high level of visitors ready to invest, the quality of the content and the experience is vital. It’s our spearhead! Every visitor must leave the show with the memory of having had the very best of a unique experience. And to do this, beyond the requirements in terms of the show content, every detail matters: from the fluidity of reception, to the sectorisation of the spaces, plus how the sea shuttles run, to the clear and precise signage. We have 3 different categories of VIP tickets for those who would like to take advantage of them, each giving access to a certain level of services and access (VIP Clubs, a VIP sea shuttle, concierge service, exclusive guided tour, helicopter transfer, etc.).
NP: Building on the success of 2023, what are your plans for the upcoming edition?
At two months to the opening of the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024, its organisation is shaping up with several new features that will enable us to stay on course with our success! Firstly, we are proud to inaugurate the Power Boat Marina dedicated to motor boats up to 12/13 metres in Port Canto. This new marina will bring together around 170 new motor boats, enabling visitors interested in them to find most of the motor boats in this category offered on the world market. This new sector will be the link between the Sailing area (120 new sailing boats from 10 metres long) and the Yacht Brokerage area (around fifty previously-owned boats from 25 metres long). Visitors will now be able to do a full tour of Port Canto, i.e. a loop of +/- 2.5 km.
Then, we reviewed the configuration of certain areas of the Vieux Port, which remains the port for new 12/13m to 50m motor boats, the equipment manufacturers and service companies related to this industry. There are changes to take into account to the entrances, the Tender area and super yacht engine manufacturers. A host of new aspects that I hope our visitors will love! This year, the 700 boats on display will be distributed equally between the Vieux Port and Port Canto, with 350 boats to discover on either side of the Croisette. This new configuration also enables us to create an even clearer and simplified tour circuit with almost a quay, or a large area, associated with a type of boat.
Finally, for 2024 we are setting up the Innovation Route, with two main objectives: to help exhibitors promote their innovations and to help visitors find these innovations in the show. The idea is to identify 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… All the projects and initiatives implemented to support a more sustainable industry will be highlighted with special signage.
NP: Can you share some highlights of the most anticipated premieres expected at this year’s festival?
Without giving too many spoilers, I can already tell you about some of the boats that will be presented in world premieres. In the new Power Boat Marina we are proud to welcome the Zodiac – X10CC, the biggest boat the brand has ever built, as well as the RIB U Maio by the Corsican boat builder Fanale which is ecological, and the 22 Electric T-TOP from Axopar. In terms of sail boats, we will be exhibiting the BALI 5.8, a luxury catamaran that incorporates solar panels, the Swan 88, Nautor Swan’s first hybrid yacht, with diesel-electric propulsion, and the majestic New 80 from Fountaine Pajot. On the motor side, I can point out the Sanlorenzo SP92, the Azimut Magellano 30M, the impressive Ferretti Yachts INFYNITO 90 or the Whisper 60, a 100% solar-powered electric yacht.
NP: Are there any new areas of focus or initiatives you plan to introduce?
This year, we are focusing on technological advances to help decarbonise and reduce the impact of the marine industry through the Innovation Route we talked about earlier.
NP: How do you see the yachting industry evolving in terms of sustainability and technology?
It is clear that the industry is developing in this area and is very attentive to the expectations/requirements of the new generation of sailing enthusiasts; a younger clientele, interested in ecological boats that have less impact on the environment. The change in the industry will happen with them, through their demands for developments in terms of impact.
The marine industry does not escape from environmental challenges and the need to meet the sector’s decarbonisation needs. Boat builders and equipment manufacturers are slowly but surely setting a course towards ecology. There are more and more eco-friendly innovations in terms of engines, propulsion, waste management, end-of-life, eco-design, optimisation, innovative materials, etc.
As the organiser of a boat show, we must support our exhibitors in this development and that is why we believe that the Innovation Route is so important. It is the perfect opportunity to promote new ways of enjoying boats. Customs are also changing towards new modes that favour use over ownership (rental, sharing). Even if, overall, those who love the sea will ultimately always want to buy their boats.
NP: Can you elaborate on the importance of fostering a nautical culture for future generations?
As someone who is passionate about the sea, I am the first to promote the enjoyment of navigating (particularly sailing) and it is certainly key to pass on a certain nautical culture to future generations for several reasons. First of all, it enables awareness to be raised among young people about protecting marine and coastal environments. By educating them on the importance of preserving marine ecosystems, we can encourage environmentally-friendly navigation practices.
Secondly, nautical culture promotes learning various skills such as navigation, weather and mechanics, which can be beneficial both personally and professionally. It also instils important values such as discipline, respect for nature and team spirit. By making sailing and nautical activities accessible and attractive, we can inspire lasting passion for the sea and encourage young people to become ambassadors for the sea of tomorrow. By integrating technological innovations and sustainable practices now, we are working to ensure that future generations can benefit from a healthy marine environment and therefore be able to continue enjoying sailing while being completely responsible.
NP: How will the Cannes Yachting Festival continue to adapt and innovate in the years to come?
New challenges await us in the next two years with the work continuing in the Vieux Port. We will approach them with energy and motivation, as we have always done, keeping in mind the high quality standards we want to offer our exhibitors and visitors, as well as the DNA of the show, which is to accommodate a wide variety of boats, both in terms of size and type. Because the Festival must reflect the marine industry and represent its eclecticism and wealth.
At the end of each show, we send exhibitors and visitors a survey to get their feedback and improve the show year to year. Their answers are very important to us, as we always endeavour to make participants’ visits more enjoyable. To do this, we are always looking for ways to make their experience clearer, better and more comfortable. We are constantly improving the sea shuttle service (free) – I highly recommend our visitors take advantage of the sea crossing between the two ports –, the signage to make sure no one gets lost, and our exhibitors’ digital experience…
Our objective for the coming years is to continue to offer our exhibitors and visitors a quality exhibition, with innovative and comprehensive content, a wonderful presentation of the boats and products exhibited, and a clear and easy visit between the two ports.
NP: What gives you the most fulfillment in your work and what motivates you to continue organizing this prestigious event?
Organising the Cannes Yachting Festival has been my passion for more than 10 years. For me, it’s a real spectacle more than a show and a story about people more than anything. And what could be better than this fabulous world, this world of passion, where everything relies on loving and respecting the sea? I’ve actually devoted much of my career to the sea, and sharing that passion with a dedicated team is a powerful and rewarding experience. Growing an event of this scale requires a wide range of skills. You have to master the technical, maritime, underwater, logistics, finance, communication, commercial and even political aspects… it’s a real multidimensional challenge! As a manager, my role is to set everyone’s efforts to music. It’s real teamwork, a complex machine that requires experts from different backgrounds to communicate with each other and complement each other. It’s a pleasure to work with such a close-knit team to deliver such a “wow” event every year, and after all that hard work, to declare the event open. We all experience an immense sense of satisfaction every time.
NP: What is your biggest challenge as the Festival Director and how does your role as “maestro” contribute to the success of the entire event?
My biggest challenge as the director of the Festival is to coordinate and harmonise all the elements necessary for the event’s success. This includes logistics management, selecting exhibitors, and event scheduling, as well as visitor comfort. But above all, the primary challenge is respecting safety.
As a “maestro”, my role is to make sure that every part of the festival works in synergy, a little like an orchestra conductor who leads their musicians to create a coherent and harmonious symphony. This means that I need to have a clear view of the entire festival, anticipate potential challenges and be ready to find solutions quickly. My contribution to the success of the event is also based on my ability to inspire and motivate my team, build strong relationships with our partners and exhibitors, and ensure that the visitor experience is exceptional. By creating a positive and collaborative atmosphere, we can ensure that the Cannes Yachting Festival continues to be a reference event in the world of nautical activities.
By integrating technological innovations and sustainable practices now, we are working to ensure that future generations can benefit from a healthy marine environment and therefore be able to continue enjoying sailing while being completely responsible.
Sylvie Ernoult
Director, Cannes Yachting Festival
