Cannes Yachting Festival to Go Ahead

The organisers of the 2020 Cannes Yachting Festival, Europe’s largest in-water event, have confirmed that this year’s show will go ahead as planned from September 8-13. According to IBI News, the news was confirmed today by Reed Expositions, whose staff have been working remotely to ensure the success of the show’s 43rd edition.

“The aim is to open the Yachting Festival 2020 in such a way as to allow the event to be held in the best possible conditions and in full compliance with the protection of exhibitors and visitors,” Reed said in today’s statement.

“To this end we are currently reviewing a specific organisation of visitor queues, the installation of markings on the ground, a counting and/or flow regulation system (in the aisles, quays, stands and on board the boats), the wearing of masks, the provision of hydro-alcoholic gel and increased daily disinfection of the areas through which visitors pass,” Reed’s statement continued.

“Many customers with whom I have spoken are hoping that the Yachting Festival can be the light at the end of the tunnel,” says show manager Sylvie Ernoult. “And even if there are still many steps to take before opening this year’s Yachting Festival, this hope is a goal for us.

“The Festival’s teams are doing everything possible to accommodate customers and provide them with the necessary flexibility while ensuring that work schedules are respected, thereby enabling everything to be operational in due course,” she adds. “We have set up a team responsible for adapting the new health standards to the festival and will deploy all necessary means for their implementation.”

Reed Expositions says its actions are guided by full compliance with the health measures recommended to restrict the spread of the coronavirus. The organiser is also participating actively in the work carried out by UNIMEV, the professional federation of the events industry, to draw up protective measures for trade fairs that will be submitted to the French government.

At the moment, all in-water and on-land projects continue to evolve in close collaboration with exhibitors, the port authorities and partners in Cannes, says Reed and the installation of boats and stands in the Vieux Port and Port Canto is well underway.

At Port Canto, the Sailing Area has been designed with some 110 units registered to date, of which 60 exceed 15m. The sea access between the two ports has been increased and will benefit from enhanced signage. In addition, a new catering area is planned.

Images: Sam Watson