Cannes’ sailing stars

“Sailing is a key part of the Cannes Yachting Festival,” says Festival Director Constance Brément.

With 120 monohulls and multihulls brought together at Port Canto, the Sailing Area is a source of pure amazement for our visitors.”

Brément says nearly one in five boats in the Sailing Area will make its world premiere, highlighting the pace of development across the international sailing sector.

Among those debuts, organisers have selected 10 new yachts – five monohulls and five catamarans – as highlights of the 2026 sailing line-up.

Five new monohulls

The AMEL 50.2 introduces a new aesthetic direction for the French builder while retaining its emphasis on long-range cruising. Designed by Berret-Racoupeau, the 16.7-metre yacht features a reverse bow, modernised hull and protected central cockpit, along with expanded living areas and increased solar capacity.

CNB Yacht Builders will unveil the CNB 62, a 19.48-metre Philippe Briand design conceived for long-range cruising with reduced crew. Features include a light-filled saloon, carbon arch and longitudinal tender garage.

At the larger end of the fleet, Cantiere del Pardo will present the Grand Soleil 80 Plus Long Cruise. The 26.2-metre flagship combines a carbon rig, twin rudders and telescopic keel with a Torqeedo hybrid platform. The yacht is developed by Cantiere del Pardo with Matteo Polli and Nauta Design.

YYachts will introduce the new Y7, redesigned by judel/vrolijk & co. The 21.99-metre yacht features an asymmetrical cockpit entrance, more protected cockpit and U-shaped seating, while a dedicated technical space separates the engine room from the accommodation.

Nautor Swan will stage the world premiere of the Swan 80-301. Designed by Germán Frers, with exterior design by Lucio Micheletti and interiors by Misa Poggi, the 25.55-metre cruiser-racer combines twin helm stations and a flexible cockpit arrangement with the Finnish yard’s performance-cruising approach.

Five catamaran premieres

Aquila will expand its sailing range with the Aquila 45 Sail. The 13.42-metre catamaran features a fixed foredeck lounge, open flybridge and aft cockpit flowing into the saloon, with three- or four-cabin configurations available.

Fountaine Pajot’s FP48 will also make its world premiere. Replacing the Tanna 47, the 14.92-metre catamaran introduces a more open relationship between the aft cockpit and saloon, complemented by a forward cockpit and Lounge Deck.

Maestro and Quatuor versions will be offered, along with integrated solar panels and the builder’s ODSea+ energy-management solution.

The new Leopard 43 represents the beginning of a sportier generation for the South African builder. Reverse bows and an optimised sail plan target improved sailing performance, while panoramic glazing, an aft cockpit and rooftop relaxation area retain the model’s cruising focus.

Lagoon will unveil the Lagoon 47, which places an emphasis on circulation and flexible accommodation. A door connects the forward cockpit directly with the saloon, while the flybridge creates another outdoor living area. Multiple cabin arrangements and a modular “smart room” provide further flexibility.

Completing the selected premieres is the Windelo 55 Sport, a 16.24-metre performance cruising catamaran featuring an enlarged sail plan and extended carbon daggerboards. The French builder positions the model as a long-range cruiser balancing offshore performance with the stability and ease of use of a multihull.

The Sailing Area forms part of a wider Cannes Yachting Festival expected to feature around 700 boats from 5 to 50 metres across the Vieux Port and Port Canto.

The Cannes Yachting Festival runs from Tuesday 8 to Sunday 13 September 2026.

cannesyachtingfestival.com