With less than a month left before the start of one of the world's largest yacht exhibitions, Yacht Harbour takes a look through the highlights of Cannes Yachting Festival 2019, that will see its 42nd edition from 10 to 15 September 2019.
Last year, the exhibition attracted 51 thousand visitors from all over the world, to witness 542 exhibitors who brought 638 boats to the Cote d'Azur, including 219 new models. This year, according to forecasts, the number of exhibitors will grow by 8%, to over 50 thousand visitors.
What’s on:
In 2019, the Cannes Yachting Festival will cover even larger spaces. The Port Canto, which hosted an exposition of water toys and brokerage superyachts last year, will be fully occupied this time, with its main part devoted to sailing vessels. The total length of the berths with sailing hulls only will make 400 meters, the same quantity will be left for catamarans. On the ground, 4,000 square metres will be provided for sailing yachts manufacturers, twice as much as last year.
Starting from September, the show will fully occupy the entire Gulf of Cannes, said Sylvie Ernoult, director of the festival. The water part of the sailing yachts exposition will increase by almost 30%, of the motor ones - by 10%. Their goal was to open the largest exhibition of sailing ships on the water in the world, she said.
In total, 120 sailing yachts between 10 to 35 metres in LOA will be displayed in the Port Canto. In addition, Skipper restaurant will open doors at the entrance of the sailing area, with a terrace to enjoy a view over the masts selection.
Every day from 10 to 11 in the morning it will be possible to enter the exhibition for free through the Port Canto (after registering on the official website). Meanwhile, Port Canto and the Old Port will be connected through regular RIBs shuttles, as it was in the previous years.
The entire Old Port will be divided into zones, where each one will be dedicated to yachts of a certain size category and assigned with a particular colour accordingly. For instants, ‘compact superyachts’ of 20–30 metres can be found in the blue Jetee zone, medium-sized boats of 14–20 metres will be found at the new Terrasse Pantiero pontoons. A separate pier (blue zone) will be allocated to motor catamarans, close by a new exhibition of boat engines. Furthermore, for superyachts of 30–50 metres in length, there is the Superyacht Extension.
What else on display except for yachts:
Take a look at the Luxher Gallery, located in a round building near the main entrance, for premium watches, jewellery and fashion accessories, as well as designer utensils, bedding, furniture and arts. The Yachting Café nearby will offer dishes by hereditary pastry chef, Mason Dalloyau, whose ancestors fed cakes of Louis XIV himself.
La Regata, the regatta of small catamarans will take place on September 12 and 13 for the first time. From the Port Canto, it will be possible to watch live athletes competing in the Gulf of Cannes, or even join one of the crews and participate in the competition.
On Friday, September 13, the exhibition will run on an extended schedule and close at 10 pm. Between the 19th and 22nd hours, a lot of parties will take place. The Ambassador of the Cannes Yachting Festival 2019, a sailing star, the winner of the last Vendee Globe, Armel Le Cléac’h, might also be seen there.
Another point of attraction, Concours d’Élégance parade demonstrating vintage boats will take place in the Old Port. Last year, the 1935 Triple Cockpit built by Hacker-Craft Shipyard won the main prize among vintage display items, while Cockwells titanium tender took ‘the most impressive modern boat’. This year's Concours d’Élégance will take place on September 14 at 16:00 local time.
Other interesting news is that in the near future, the organisers of the event might be changed. Since already two year, the copyright holders have been suing each other for the right to perform management duties, and the latest decision of the Paris court is not in favour of the current ones - Reed. The court upheld the demand of the French Maritime Industry Federation to cancel the post-contract clause, according to which the right to hold the festival until 2041 is assigned to Reed. The decision has not yet entered into force, with an appeal filed.
Below is the list of the 10 of the largest superyachts on display in 2019:
#10. Odyssey
Builder: Princess Yachts (2015)
Length: 40.16 m
Price: $ 17,453,500
Built by Princess Yachts in 2015 with a beam of 8 metres and a draft of 2.3 metres, Odyssey features a steel hull and GRP superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 395 tons. She is powered by MTU engines giving her a maximum speed of 23 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots. Odyssey's maximum range is estimated at 2,000 nautical miles. The motor yacht can accommodate 10 guests in 5 cabins with an interior design by Fendi Casa and an exterior design by Bernard Olesinski.
#9. The Majesty 140
Builder: Gulf Craft (2018)
Length: 43.1m
The Majesty 140 has been created by Gulf Craft’s own Design Studio. She offers accommodation on-board for up to 12 guests across five cabins, including a main-deck owner’s suite complete with a fold-out balcony and an en-suite Jacuzzi bathtub. Key interior materials include Italian leather, Onyx Costa Blanca marble and crystal door handles. The open-plan saloon on the main deck includes an L-shaped wrap of seating and a dining area for up to ten guests, while other key features include a superyacht beach club and a skylounge of 55 square metres. Majesty 140 features a top speed of 20 knots.
#8. Samhan
Builder: Overmarine (2008)
Length: 49.9m
Price: $ 17,500,000
Built by Overmarine in 2007, and hull #2 of the famous 165’ line, Samhan features interior and exterior design is by Stefano Righini, with a contemporary flair throughout the yacht. Able to welcome 10 guests, Samhan has five ensuite cabins, plus accommodation for a crew of 9. Powered by triple MTU 16V 4000 M90 engines, Samhan clocks impressive top speed of 40 knots, cruising at 30 knots, with a comfortable range of 600 nautical miles. In addition, she is trademarked with a shallow draft of 1.5 metres.
#7. Roe
Builder: Turquoise Yachts (2016)
Length: 47m
Previously named Razan, the motor yacht designed by H2 Design can accommodate 12 guests across 6 cabins. She is capable of a maximum speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots.
Roe features a full displacement steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. She was built to ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) ✠A1, Yachting Service, E , ✠AMS classification society rules, and is MCA Compliant. Moreover, she is fitted with 'zero speed stabilisers' which work when the yacht is stationary, particularly in rough waters.
#6. Mangusta Gransport 45/01, the Project Capri
Builder: Overmarine (2019)
Length: 45.3m
The Project Capri features laid-back-style layout smoothly connecting various onboard areas. She features a spacious main deck, while the distinctive feature on this yacht is her upper deck, where the central living room is connected to both the stern, via large sliding glazed doors, and the forward sun bridge.
The sun bridge features an infinity pool with a waterfall and a Jacuzzi for up to 7 people. All the amenities are offered to up to 12 guests accommodated across 5 cabins. The yacht has a maximum speed of 26 knots, a range of 3,500 miles at 11 knots, and a draft of only 2.2 metres.
#5. Lilium
Builder: Bilgin (2019)
Length: 47.5m
Price: € 24,500,000
With a beam of 8.75 metres and a draft of 2.5 metres, the newest Bilgin has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The second hull of Bilgin 156 series, she boasts a gross tonnage of 499 tons. The motor yacht can accommodate 10 guests in 5 cabins with an interior design by H2 Yacht Design and an exterior design by Unique Yacht Design.
She is powered by MTU engines of 1500 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 11 knots. Lilium's maximum range is estimated at 5000 nautical miles.
#4. Cecilia
Builder: Wider (2018)
Length: 49.98 m
Price: € 30,000,000
With a beam of 9 metres and a draft of 1.98 metres, Cecilia has an aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure. Designed by Fulvio de Simoni, she can accommodate 12 guests in 5 cabins. Guests on board will appreciate the sizeable swimming pool in the transom, sophisticated bridge control panel, and sumptuous interior decor. Furthermore, Wider 165 can accommodate a 6-metre tender in the transom garage, along with a personal submarine.
The yacht is powered by MAN engines of 805 hp each giving her a maximum speed of 13 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Cecilia's maximum range is estimated at 5000 nautical miles.
#3. Blue Night
Builder: Benetti (2000)
Length: 50m
Price: € 10,950,000
Formerly known as Aquila, Blue Night was built by Benetti in 2000 with a beam of 9 metres and a draft of 2.84 metres. Stefano Natucci is responsible for her beautiful exterior and interior design, offering accommodation for up to 14 guests in 6 cabins, comprising a master suite, 2 double cabins and 2 twin cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 10 crew onboard.
She is powered to a maximum speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 16 knots. In 2013, she underwent a significant refit.
#2. Andiamo
Builder: Baglietto (2017)
Length: 47.6 m
Price: € 23,950,000
She was built by Baglietto in 2017, featuring a beam of 9.5 metres and a draft of 2.65 metres. The yacht was designed by Francesco Paszkowski and built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. This adds up to a gross tonnage of 499 tons. She is powered by CAT engines of 1500 hp each, giving her a maximum speed of 15 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Andiamo's maximum range is estimated at 4,500 nautical miles. The motor yacht can accommodate 12 guests in 6 cabins.
Builder: Dream Ship Victory (2013)
Length: 64.52 m
Price: € 32,000,000
The sailing superyacht was built by Dream Ship Victory in 2013. She boasts interior designs by Ken Freivokh and exterior styling by Valeriy Stepanenko.
With a beam of 10.5 metres, the vessel can accommodate 10 guests across 5 cabins. She has a maximum speed of 13 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Mikhail Vorontsov's maximum range is estimated at 2,950 nautical miles.
The latest 80-meter Amels Limited Editions superyacht has arrived at Damen Yachting's Vlissingen shipyard in the Netherlands after construction at their Galatz facility in Romania. The vessel will now undergo full outfitting in preparation for delivery in 2027.Project Manager Danker Rijk stated: "After an impressive launch in our Galatz shipyard, we are delighted to welcome this Amels 80 to Vlissingen to commence the outfitting phase. This is an exciting milestone toward delivering another exceptional yacht on schedule."The 2,175 GT superyacht features exterior design by Espen Øino and interiors by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design. With accommodations for 14 guests and 21 crew members, the vessel represents Damen Yachting's combination of custom features with proven yacht-building technology.The Amels 80 follows the Limited Editions series' approach of offering semi-custom superyachts with reduced build times compared to fully custom projects. No further details about the owner or specific custom features were disclosed.Damen Yachting, a division within the Damen Shipyards Group, was created in 2019. The division combines the pedigree and heritage of Amels yachts with a growing portfolio of SeaXplorer yachts and Yacht Support vessels.Credits: Damen Yachting
June 27, 2025
Flexjet and Ferretti Group have introduced Riva Volare, a custom aircraft cabin design inspired by Riva motoryachts. The collaboration brings nautical styling to Flexjet's Gulfstream G650 jets and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, targeting ultra-high-net-worth travelers.The Gulfstream G650 configuration accommodates 12-15 passengers for flights up to 16 hours, while two Sikorsky S-76 helicopters will operate in Florida and a new Milan-based service covering Italy and the French Riviera. Ferretti Group clients will receive preferential access to the helicopter operations.The design blends elements from Riva's 1960s Aquarama with contemporary Aquariva models, using artisanal materials and distinctive patterns. The interiors were developed through collaboration between both companies' design teams.Kenn Ricci and Alberto Galassi"I have long admired the iconic style of Riva, and seeing this brought to life in our aircraft is nothing short of exceptional," said Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci. Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi added: "Riva Volare is another splendid result of our collaboration with Flexjet, a brand with which we share the same passion for constantly raising quality standards."The design was unveiled June 26 at Milano Prime Linate Airport, with displays of the aircraft alongside a Riva Aquariva Special yacht. No pricing details were disclosed.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
June 27, 2025
Italian shipyard AB Yachts, part of Next Yacht Group, has unveiled the AB 110S, a sportier version of its AB 110 model. The 33.7-meter yacht marks AB Yachts' first collaboration with automotive design firm EXE Design, incorporating elements such as a raked windshield and lightweight profile."We also boast over 20 years of experience in naval architecture. [And] this cross-sector approach is the real added value of our work," said Stefano Bedoni of EXE Design.Key features include multiple retractable systems: a sliding cockpit cover, a sunroof between the helm and saloon, and a hardtop that can cover either the helm station or sunpad. The main deck integrates a sunbathing area and a bar serving both indoor and outdoor spaces. A forward "flying couch" provides elevated seating with panoramic views.Powered by three MAN V12X-2200 engines, the AB 110S reaches 48 knots. The engine room is fully soundproofed to minimize noise and vibrations. No pricing or delivery details were disclosed.Italian shipyard AB Yachts was founded in 1992. In 2001, AB Yachts was acquired by the Fipa Group. Today Next Yacht Group is the owner of the historic Maiora, AB Yachts, and CBI Navi brands. AB Yachts range consists of semi-displacement yachts from 17.70 to 42 meters.Credits: AB Yachts
June 26, 2025
Cantiere del Pardo has introduced the Grand Soleil 65 Performance, a performance-oriented evolution of its 20-meter sailing yacht series. Following the Long Cruise version, this model emphasizes speed and responsiveness while retaining onboard comfort. The yacht made its debut at the Palma International Boat Show in May.As part of the Plus Line for vessels over 18 meters, the 65 Performance involves owners in the customization process from initial design stages. Franco Corazza, project manager for the Plus Line, stated: "The 65-footer is the result of a totally Made-in-Italy design process that brings together a team of professionals representing Italian excellence in the yachting sector." Naval architecture was handled by Matteo Polli, structural design by Marco Lostuzzi, and layout by Nauta Design.Environmental considerations include sustainable teak, laminated glass insulation, linen-reinforced composites, water-based paints, and solar panels. The hull utilizes epoxy-infused biaxial fiberglass and carbon reinforcements, with construction processes meeting strict quality certifications.Matteo Polli's design adapts features from the larger Grand Soleil 72, including a V-shaped bow for reduced drag and improved light-wind performance. The sail plan positions the mast aft to maximize the foretriangle, with a self-tacking jib as standard for simplified handling. Underwater, an inverted T-keel and single rudder balance stability and maneuverability, offering draft options of 3.5 meters (standard), 3.0 meters (shallow), or telescopic configurations.Nauta Design optimized deck space and interior flow, lowering the saloon to align with cabin levels for improved continuity. The coachroof's tapered profile distinguishes it from the Long Cruise version's panoramic windows. Massimo Gino of Nauta Design noted: "Our challenge was to convey a sense of motion and energy while preserving comfort, functionality, and style."Interior materials are customizable, with owners selecting finishes from the shipyard’s portfolio. No pricing or delivery timelines were disclosed.Cantiere del Pardo was founded in 1973 in Italy. Pardo Yachts, the brand of Cantiere del Pardo dedicated to powerboats, was born in 2016. The first model, the Pardo 43, was launched in 2017. Grand Soleil was founded in 1973 and is famous for its yachts, which ensure performance for regattas, autonomous long-distance navigation, as well as a high level of sustainable consciousness.Credits: Grand Soleil Yachts
June 26, 2025
Denison Yachting has announced the availability of the fourth hull in the Conrad C144S series, priced at EUR32 million with a two-year delivery window. The vessel follows three previous models, including the award-winning Ace (hull 1), Extra Time (hull 2), and the upcoming Moonlight (hull 3), the latter two sold by Denison.Built by Conrad Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland, the 44-meter C144S is a full-displacement superyacht with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. The design features exterior styling by Reymond Langton Design and naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design, emphasizing seakeeping performance. The "S" designation refers to the straight bow, which increases interior volume while maintaining a streamlined profile.Interior options include the original M2 Atelier concept seen on earlier models or alternative designs, such as Nauta Design’s understated approach chosen for Moonlight. The yacht accommodates 10–12 guests across a full-beam owner’s suite and four VIP cabins, with crew quarters for nine.Key features include a sundeck with a hot tub, infinity pool, and outdoor cinema, along with a beach club featuring a wet bar and wellness area. Storage capacity includes a 7-meter tender, two jet skis, and multiple SeaBobs.With a transoceanic range exceeding 4,000 nautical miles, the C144S cruises at 11 knots (max 13.8 knots) and complies with IMO Tier III and Lloyd’s MCA LY3 standards."The C144S represents a proven platform with award-winning design and strong value in the 500GT segment," said Denison broker Alex Clarke. Delivery is scheduled for 2027.Conrad Shipyard is located in Gdansk, Poland and specializes in building steel, and aluminum luxury yachts ranging from 24 to 100 meters in length.Credits: Denison Yachting
June 26, 2025