LIFE BEYOND FIRST CLASS
DEPARTURES
Charting a New Course:
Inside the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival with Sylvie Ernoult
With over 700 yachts, 140 world premieres, and a bold vision for sustainable innovation, the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival—under Sylvie Ernoult’s final direction—cements its status as the world’s most stylish, forward-thinking boat show.
JESSICA HALL
As the French Riviera begins its golden descent into September, one event draws the global yachting elite to Cannes like clockwork: the Cannes Yachting Festival. Each year, the show sets the tone for the industry—equal parts high design, maritime innovation, and lifestyle aspiration. But in 2025, the Festival carries a special kind of energy: more ambitious, more forward-thinking, and more committed to reshaping the future of yachting. And at the helm for one last time is Sylvie Ernoult, the show’s longtime director, whose final edition promises to leave a lasting legacy.
“This isn’t just a reopening,” Ernoult says, referencing the expansion of the showgrounds and the Festival’s redefined approach. “It’s a reinvention.”
Sylvie Ernoult
A Vision Rooted in Excellence and Change
Now the largest in-water boat show in Europe, the Cannes Yachting Festival spans the iconic Vieux Port and Port Canto, together showcasing over 700 vessels across every market segment—from 5-meter tenders to 50-meter superyachts. With 140 world premieres expected this year and nearly 650 exhibitors, the 2025 edition doesn’t merely celebrate luxury—it interrogates it.
Design-forward, sustainability-focused, and increasingly global in its outlook, the show reflects the shifting demographics of its audience. “We’re seeing a younger, more environmentally-conscious visitor,” says Ernoult. “This new generation of buyers values performance and elegance—but also technology, responsibility, and innovation.”
And the Festival delivers. At Vieux Port, guests can stroll among newly launched 12–45-meter motor yachts and explore the now-iconic Power Catamaran Village, while Port Canto showcases sailing yachts, brokerage vessels over 25 meters, and a growing display of water toys and electric tenders—with live demonstrations each day. The Festival is immersive by design, with sea trials and private viewings offered to qualified buyers.
Innovation with Purpose
Now in its second year, the Innovation Route returns as a curated trail through the show’s most progressive exhibitors—those advancing the industry’s transition toward smarter, cleaner, and more adaptive design. From hybrid propulsion systems and AI-driven onboard technology to recycled materials and modular architecture, the Innovation Route brings the future of yachting into clear, tangible focus.
Among the standout debuts this year:
The Azimut Seadeck 7, the world’s first yacht combining hybrid propulsion with Volvo Penta’s IPS system, capable of fully electric cruising at 11 knots.
The Silent 80 Flybridge, a solar-electric catamaran, redefining luxury with silence and sustainability.
The MODX 70, a 100% electric catamaran equipped with retractable wings and energy systems powered by sun and wind.
The Catagura Tortue 147, crafted from recyclable aluminum and paulownia wood, offering a new blueprint for ocean-friendly design.
“Performance and comfort are no longer enough,” Ernoult explains. “Today, elegance must align with responsibility.”
Crafting a Seamless, Sustainable Experience
Behind the glamour lies an ambitious operational strategy. From start to finish, the Cannes Yachting Festival is engineered for sustainability. Printed materials are minimized, exhibitors are required to follow ecological guidelines, and caterers are selected based on their use of local, seasonal produce. Waste management and recycling infrastructure has been dramatically upgraded, and transportation is streamlined with Mercedes ByMyCar courtesy vehicles and sea shuttles connecting the ports.
For VIP guests—many of whom arrive via private aviation to Nice or Cannes-Mandelieu—the experience is seamless. Two exclusive VIP Clubs, designed by Roche Bobois, offer panoramic views, curated hospitality, and elegant calm amid the show’s buzz. For Platinum clients, services extend to airport tarmac pickups, helicopter transfers, private yacht tours, and personalized access to top shipyards.
Naturally, there’s Champagne—Louis Roederer, chilled and waiting.
A Legacy in Motion
This year’s show also marks the final edition under Sylvie Ernoult’s leadership—a poignant milestone for a director who has overseen more than a decade of the Festival’s transformation.
“It’s symbolic,” she reflects. “I’ve had the honor of watching this event evolve into a global leader, and I’m proud of the way we’ve navigated that growth—with style, with values, and with a forward-looking spirit.”
Looking ahead, Ernoult is confident the Festival will continue to lead under new director Constance Brément, with a focus on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and an even more refined visitor experience as the Vieux Port undergoes a dramatic redesign.
What Not to Miss
For first-time visitors—or seasoned veterans—a few experiences are essential. Take to the water on one of the Festival’s test sails or speedboat trials. Explore the latest in yacht design from the quays. Cross ports via sea shuttle for the full scope of the show. And don’t miss the Innovation Route, where the dreams of tomorrow are already afloat.
Because Cannes, as ever, is more than a backdrop. It’s the beating heart of an industry in motion—and in 2025, it beats louder, cleaner, and with a style all its own.
www.cannesyachtingfestival.com
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