by Finest Residences 
Yachting is not immune to awareness of the environmental crisis. Reconciling nautical activities with respecting the environment is tomorrow’s challenge and the Cannes Yachting Festival 2021 aim to address it. Marinas, the nautical sector, professional actors and users have been becoming aware of the true consequences of their activities on the environment for several years. Despite restrictive international rules aiming to protect natural environments (hybrid propulsion, reduction of noise pollution, more regulations for mooring zones to preserve seabeds…), and the obligation for marinas with more than 100 places to reserve 1% of their spaces for electric boats from 2022, the transition is slow. On 28 July, Annick Girardin, French Minister of the Sea, therefore launched a mission dedicated to the sailing sector. The aim? To identify solutions to develop the sector while finding the balance between sailing freely and an environmental conscience that is indispensable today. The challenge is to undertake a green transition in nautical activities that is similar to that which the car industry is experiencing. These new sustainable development themes are an incredible opportunity to reinvent nautical activities to imagine the world of tomorrow.
The Cannes Yachting Festival’s environmental shift
To firmly accompany this green transition, the Yachting Festival had already started making an environmental shift in 2019 with the “Energy Observer” educational exhibition presenting work on hydrogen and renewable energy undertaken by the boat of that name.
To go even further, this year the Festival has organised a full “Green” route for visitors: it is an environmental route highlighting exhibitors developing or presenting an environmentally-friendly concept. More than 50 exhibitors are taking part in this route which will showcase equipment and 80 boats or equipment that are innovative from an environmentally-friendly viewpoint. To go even further, this year the Festival has organised a full “Green” route for visitors: it is an environmental route highlighting exhibitors developing or presenting an environmentally-friendly concept. More than 50 exhibitors are taking part in this route which will showcase equipment and 80 boats or equipment that are innovative from an environmentally-friendly viewpoint. All exhibitors taking part in this route show the “Green Route Cannes” logo.
In addition, for the first time since the Cannes Yachting Festival was created, this year the Vieux Port will accommodate a nautical zone exclusively dedicated to fully electric and hybrid boats which will present a dozen 8- to 12-metre boats.
Finally, the Cannes Yachting Festival 2021 from the Vieux Port to Port Canto, several eco-friendly boats can be seen. Some examples are listed below:
Silent-Yachts
Silent-Yachts is a solar pioneer in the world of yachting and will be showcasing the Silent 60, its latest electric solar energy catamaran. It’s a true environmentally-friendly yacht able to sail up to 100 miles per day without fuel, emissions or noise, that can be seen on quai Max Laubeuf.
Hynova Yacht
On the Jetée Hynova Yacht will be presenting its 1st tender yacht accredited as an electro-hydrogen-powered boat : Hynova 40. It is the first model in the world destined for serial production using hydrogen stored onboard to sail without emitting CO2, NOX gas, creating sound pollution nor risking hydrocarbon leaks.
Neocean
The sailing of tomorrow? Neocean has been working on the subject for 3 years and offers new ways of sailing without polluting or disturbing marine life. Its Overboat foiler is among them. It is a boat that’s both clean and silent. Thanks to its 4 electronically-regulated foils, the boat’s energy requirement is reduced by 60%. A licence is not required to use the boat, which will be exhibited in the Toys Area.
Windelo
At Port Canto, new brand on the market Windelo will present its first environmentally-friendly catamaran, the Windelo 50 Adventure: it is a simple, comfortable, high-performance and above all innovative sailing boat. With this new catamaran, Windelo is taking part in the transformation of the high-performance cruise boat market by combining ecology, performance, safety and comfort onboard.
Pinball Boat
At the Vieux Port, in the Pantiero zone in the zone reserved for fully electric or hybrid boats, Pinball Boat, a start-up created in 2016 that focuses on new uses of boating, will present its E-hybrid catamaran, a silent, easily-manoeuvrable and environmentally-friendly boat. It has autonomy of 1 hour at 6 knots.
All these ‘flagship’ models and many more are waiting to be discovered from 7 to 12 September in the exceptional setting of the city of Cannes during the Yachting Festival, the inaugural event of the sailing season and the largest in-water boat show in Europe.
USEFUL INFORMATION
- Location : Vieux Port et Port Canto, Cannes
- Dates : From Tuesday 7 to Sunday 12 September 2021
- Opening hours : Open every day from 10am to 7pm
- Late night opening on Friday 10 September until 10pm
- Closing at 6pm on Sunday
For further information about the Yachting Festival, please visit www.cannesyachtingfestival.com
