The primary one is a brand new marina for energy boats at Port Canto (one of many two in-water areas, the opposite being Vieux Port). The rationale for that is that development started within the port this yr – and realizing that we needed to reorganise the house for the present, as some areas the place we have been beforehand have been unavailable. This pushed us to be artistic and now now we have a brand new part.
As beforehand, we ensure that every thing is straightforward to search out in our completely different sectors, in order that we maintain the customer and exhibitor expectations of being the ‘greatest present on the earth’. Port Canto used to indicate fewer boats, however now now we have a fair cut up of about 350 boats in each [in-water] areas.
I’ve labored with my crew to ensure individuals realise that Port Canto will now be smaller energy boats, a few of them ‘dayboats’ – RIB and hard-bottom ones between six and 12 or 13m – which have been beforehand generally laborious to search out as they have been proven elsewhere [within CYF]. So if individuals are on the lookout for this dimension class, it’s now going to be simpler, and water presentation will give these boats nice visibility.
Vieux Port will nonetheless present the larger megayachts.
The brand new 2,000sqm power-boat marina follows an enormous change in in-water show areas that you just launched in 2019, when CYF divided areas for giant motoryachts and crusing yachts, proper?
Sure, that one was fairly difficult. We determined to do this for a similar purpose – to make discovering the kinds of boats guests needed to see simpler.
Making a separate sail space was not simple then, as many shipyards, particularly in France – Beneteau, Jeanneau, Fontaine Pajot, for instance, and others – construct each sail and motor boats. We needed to ask the identical firm that makes each to separate and present in two completely different areas.
We understood it was quite a bit for them to organise, however I used to be actually satisfied it was an enormous enchancment to the present and it took us three years from telling exhibitors to creating it occur by convincing and serving to them. However success was direct.
Exhibitors mentioned the brand new crusing space was ‘magic’ and the guests’ suggestions was nice. I anticipate the identical from the brand new powerboat marina this yr.
You’ve introduced that there might be a brand new eating space with 130 tables within the power-boat marina in Port Canto, which feels like a great sociable or assembly level for attendees.
I want I might have a present with extra assembly factors, eating places, music and locations to calm down however on the port there may be not a lot house, so I’ve to think about whether or not I ought to give the house to an current or new exhibitor, or save house for individuals to have a drink – it’s not simple to determine!
The brand new energy boat house has 450m of waterfront, so I negotiated with the port to get an upper-level terrace for the restaurant. It took numerous logistics however we managed to do it.
Is that this the place a brand new VIP lounge that’s launching this yr might be too?
No, that’s in a unique house in a brand new, fashionable port authority constructing, additionally on the very best stage, so it’ll have a terrace that appears over the entire of Port Canto. It’s for individuals who have VIP tickets – about 1,000 individuals [of the approximately 55,000 attendees who attended in 2023].
One other new-for-2024 factor is the Innovation Route – for these providing yachting {hardware} or companies that characterize contemporary concepts on effectivity. What number of stands might be collaborating on this space?
About 40 or 50 exhibitors – from 600 collaborating. There’s a sure stage of innovation wanted to be chosen to participate. The trade has develop into an increasing number of involved with ecology, so quite a bit will deal with that, which is able to permit guests to be taught extra about this. At this time it’s nonetheless costly to be ‘much less soiled’, nevertheless it’s evolving. Every kind of latest know-how, together with navigation will even be on show.
How are entrance positions altering this yr?
We might be getting into on the backside of the purple steps that result in the well-known Cannes Movie Competition purple carpet. To be trustworthy, it was not our alternative. It’s as a consequence of development works which might be occurring within the buildings which might be utilized by that competition and in addition ours.
You’ve been supporting the identical marine charity for a decade by way of CYF. Inform us about this.
Sure, the Nationwide Society for Sea Rescue (SNSM), which is made up of volunteers and saves lives in peril at sea and alongside the coast in France. We assist the Cannes operation – and so they have a stand on the present. Rising up on the ocean, and seeing how they actually save individuals, I’ve a lot respect for them.
About your pre-CYF working life, your first job was in a maritime workplace in 1985, what was this?
I labored for an enormous French shipyard, within the proprietor’s workplace – it was every kind of administrative work, together with finance; an amazing expertise for 10 years. I then went into hospitality, luxurious property and yacht chartering corporations, in advertising. This was a great studying expertise in some ways for this boat present – in logistics and accounting, however operating this occasion wants the assistance of many different consultants.
What’s the scale of your core crew, and do they work with you for a complete yr upfront?
It’s very small – about 4 individuals. However I exploit an increasing number of contractors and their groups as we get nearer to the present time. The boat present has used a few of the similar technical consultants and corporations for 20 years – longer than I’ve been concerned. That provides as much as 2,000 individuals working onsite throughout its final weeks, however these are beneath their subcontractors not me and my crew.
What are your plans past the 2024 present?
I need to proceed focussing on high quality, not amount, as a result of the present may be very massive already, with a really wide selection of boats – from 8-50m. We might want to stabilise the brand new power-boat marina launched this yr. There’ll at all times be new issues, although – it’s within the blood of me and my crew.
cannesyachtingfestival.com
Photographs courtesy of Cannes Yachting Competition/Abracadabra Studio
This text was first seen on YachtStyle.co.
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