Running from 10 to 15 September, the Cannes Yachting Festival consistently delivers one of the finest displays of yachts in the world. The lineup also tends to include several world-class premieres from shipyards eager to present their latest designs across Port Vieux and Port Canto. BOAT takes a closer look at some of the hottest debuts of 2024...
Almax
Builder: Sanlorenzo
Length: 50m
Almax is Sanlorenzo's first fuel-cell powered superyacht and the first unit in the 50Steel series, with two other 50Steels on order or under construction at the Italian shipyard. With hotel load powered by "green" methanol and fuel cell reformer technology, she marks one of a small, but growing number of yachts exploring alternative power sources in a bid for carbon-neutral cruising. Sanlorenzo estimated that the new technology could cover up to "90 per cent of the typical usage time of a superyacht with zero emissions". Accommodation is across five cabins, with guest accommodation accompanied by a gym and spa area.
Maverick
Builder: Cantiere delle Marche
Length: 44.3m
Sold to an experienced German owner, Maverick is the inaugural vessel among a trio of Flexplorer 146 yachts. She has been described as a "true explorer vessel", featuring a robust exterior by Hydro Tec, a custom-built A-frame crane and a 22-millimetre ice-belt above and below the waterline to ensure safe navigation at the highest latitudes. On the leisure side, a large infinity pool is included on the aft deck, which can be covered and used as storage for deck furniture when underway. Other features include a gym, a sauna and a diving centre.
Frette
Builder: Columbus Yachts
Length: 43m
Frette is the second unit in the Atlantique 43 series and follows close behind sistership Night Fury II, which was delivered in June 2024. Both exterior and interior design is the work of Milan-based studio Hot Lab, who describe Frette as a "natural synthesis between a motor yacht and a classic sailing boat". This is best seen in the sailing-style stern, which hosts a five-metre long central swimming pool which sits just 50 centimetres above sea level. She was christened after the renowned Italian brand and is fittingly adorned in Frette linens throughout.
Kasif
Builder: Bilgin Yachts
Length: 41.9m
The first yacht to emerge from Bilgin Yachts' new Antalya facility, Kasif was built for a repeat client of the shipyard. Her top features include a 5,000+ nautical mile range to assist the owners' business in offshore fishing farming, though her rich, burgundy-lacquered interiors will be of the greatest interest to those perusing Vieux Port and Port Canto. She marks the eighth collaboration between the shipyard and Emrecan Özgün of Unique Yacht Design and follows on from work on Tatiana, Leona and Eternal Spark.
Doge 400GT
Builder: Ocean King
Length: 40.4m
This unit has been pledged to an "esteemed" Italian owner and was last seen publicly ahead of her sea trials. Her rugged, explorer-style exterior is by Design ALot Studio, while naval architecture is owed to inNave. All social spaces are well connected, including a formal dining room on the upper deck which leads into the sun deck with its bar and swimming pool. Meanwhile, a large beach club with two fold-out balconies will allow guests easy access to the sea. Accommodation is for 10 guests, including a master cabin forward on the main deck arranged with an en suite bathroom and private study.
Multiple
Builder: Overmarine
Length: 39m
Multiple is the first entry-level model in Mangusta's displacement Oceano series, which comprises the Ocean 39, Oceano 44, Oceano 46 and Oceano 50. She was designed as an “ocean-going glass villa" and features floor-to-ceiling windows in both the main and upper saloons and sliding doors that create a single indoor-outdoor space across both levels. The infinity pool is a major highlight, positioned on the bow with a partial glass bottom that allows light to filter through to the master cabin below – which benefits from its own fold-out balcony.
Telli
Builder: Custom Line
Length: 38.8m
Telli was launched in February 2024 as the first unit in the Navetta 38 series. The new model was created from a desire to temper the nautical tradition of the Navetta series with a young, sporty style, according to design studio Citterio Viel. There is also a focus on indoor-outdoor connection seen best in the 70-square-metre beach area and the glazing that circles the sundeck, which measures an impressive 15 metres long. Accommodation is split across five cabins, including a main deck owner's cabin of over 40 square metres.
Fox
Builder: Pendennis
Length: 34.9m
This highly-anticipated compact explorer yacht was delivered from Pendennis' yard in Falmouth this May. Her name, Fox, is owed to Falmouth's famous inventor Robert Were Fox the Younger, a 19th-century scientist who invented a special type of compass which ultimately allowed exploration (and the discovery of) the South Pole. The newly built explorer yacht's interior and exterior styling is by Q London, with highlights including a 103.5-square-metre open aft deck, as well as a DJ station, a glass-walled sky lounge and a dedicated wine fridge. Accommodation encompasses a full-beam main deck master cabin and a further four en suite cabins.
AB110
Builder: AB Yachts
Length: 33.5m
Characterised by a sporty exterior and eye-watering maximum speed of 45 knots, this model is the first in a new range designed entirely by Archea Associati. According to the shipyard, the AB110 remains unchanged from previous models in terms of performances, noiselessness and the absence of any vibration while further increasing on board liveability and comfort. Imagery is undisclosed but her interiors have been described as loft-like, "charming" and defined by an "all-pervading brightness" as a result of generous glazing on the main deck.
Minella
Builder: Numarine
Length: 30.7m
The first hull in Turkish yard Numarine's 30XP series will make her world debut at Cannes. The first Numarine yacht to be fitted with hybrid propulsion, Minella has been designed inside and out by Can Yalman, although an alternative version of the interiors has been created in collaboration with Istanbul-based Ofist Design Studio. The design philosophy is "inspired by a sustainable, Scandinavian design aesthetic". Accommodation is for up to 10 guests across five en suite cabins, comprising four guest cabins on the lower deck and a master cabin on the main deck forward.
Super Mario
Builder: Extra Yachts
Length: 30.7m
Super Mario is the fourth unit in the Extra X96 Triplex series and stands out from her sisterships with the addition of a sixth cabin on the upper deck and the relocation of the galley to the main deck. Her "modern and eclectic" Hot Lab-designed interiors are spread across four decks and feature openable floor-to-ceiling windows, natural oak and white Calacatta marble. A beam of 7.6 metres and a hull length of just 23.8 metres means she falls under the CE category for recreational craft up to 24 metres.
DreamCatcher
Builder: Nautor Swan
Length: 28.3m
First revealed in 2021 at a virtual press conference, DreamCatcher was delivered to her owner in July this year. She is the Finnish shipyard's first hybrid sailing yacht with "feminine exterior lines" penned by veteran Swan designer German Frers. Described as a "no-compromise cruiser with a racer soul", she has a draught of four metres, with options for a shallow-draught, telescopic and performance keel. Her warm, classic interiors are the work of Misa Poggi, with accommodation for 10 guests, comprising an owner’s cabin located forward and four guest en suite cabins.
Acali
Builder: Wider Yachts
Length: 28m
Italian shipyard Wider Yachts' first multihull offering, Acali, was designed in collaboration with Luca Dini and built to RINA class. Offering large interior volumes, highlights come in the form of a dedicated owner's deck, an expansive beach club and a hybrid propulsion system. The owner's suite has a private foredeck lounge, while the tender garage can transform into a spacious swim platform. The 67-square-metre beach club benefits from fold-down bulwarks, direct access to the VIP cabin and discreet water toy storage. Accommodation on the 28-metre composite catamaran is for eight guests across four cabins with further provision for a crew of four.
SP92
Builder: Sanlorenzo
Length: 27.9m
This sporty model is the second in the Italian shipyard’s new smart performance (SP) line, following in the footsteps of the 33-metre SP110 which BOAT International visited last year. Initial renderings reveal a split-level saloon, floor-to-ceiling glazing and a spacious owner's suite arranged with a separate lounge and glass wardrobe. Accommodation is for up to eight guests and four crew, while other key numbers include 7.1-metre beam, a draught of 1.2 metres and a maximum speed of 40 knots.
Sexy Me
Builder: Otam
Length: 27.8m
As the flagship of the yard’s Fast and Iconic series, Sexy Me is said to have a "big-boat mentality" in spite of its compact footprint and loadline measuring under 24 metres. In close collaboration with Otam, Giuseppe Bagnardi of BG Design Firm is responsible for exterior styling, resulting in custom details including a helm console inspired by the world of F1 racing cars. The Otam 90 GTS series is fully customisable at the engineering level and Sexy Me is the semi-open version, devised to accommodate a large number of guests on board with a full-beam master suite, VIP cabin and guest cabin.
Pearl 82
Builder: Pearl Yachts
Length: 25.3m
The first unit in the Pearl 82 series will also be making her world premiere in Cannes this year. The model sits between the shipyard's Pearl 95 and Pearl 72 offerings and features a raised pilothouse design with two aft deck configurations and a semi-walkaround deck with a forward master suite and private forepeak terrace. The company claims this model is the only yacht in its class to offer this type of configuration, and Pearl Yachts managing director, Iain Smallridge, called the 82 "the most compact superyacht on the market." Naval architecture and exterior design is owed to Dixon Yacht Design.
S80
Builder: Princess Yachts
Length: 25.2m
The flagship of the S Class range, the S80 was developed in collaboration with naval architects from Olesinski and Italian design house Pininfarina. She offers a versatile layout either as an owner-operated vessel with an open saloon and raised helm, or as a "discretely crewed" vessel, with the option of an enclosed helm concealing crew accommodation. Leisure time will be best spent on the 28.7-metre flybridge, designed with multiple seating areas, a wet bar and a barbecue. The space is also equipped with a convertible dining table and even functions as an outdoor cinema with a rise-and-fall television.
Riva 82 Diva
Builder: Riva
Length: 25m
The Riva 82 Diva technically debuted at a private preview event last year, but the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival is the first time the new flybridge model will be available to the public. According to the Italian shipyard, the yacht aims to "open a new chapter" for the Sarnico-based builder and offers a "revolutionary approach to the use of space" by maximising outdoor areas and ensuring indoor spaces are thoughtfully designed according to their function. For example, the beach club features a Riva first in the use of fold-down bulwarks which expand the yacht's six-metre beam by an additional three metres. A sunpad stretching over 2.5 metres adds to the set-up.
GTX80
Builder: Pershing
Length: 23.9m
Designed by Rome-based studio Vallicelli Yacht Design, the GTX80 is characterised by open spaces and "maximum onboard livability". In a first for a Pershing model, the stern can be converted into lateral terraces to promote direct contact with the sea. Other innovative developments include an optional carbon-fabric hardtop for the sundeck and the layout of the open galley-bar, which is fully integrated into the lounge setting and opens out onto the cockpit to create a "main hub". Accommodation is across four cabins, plus a cabin for two crew.
INFYNITO 80
Builder: Ferretti Yachts
Length: 23.7m
The INFYNITO 80 builds on the "environmental friendliness, unprecedented flexibility and innovative layout" of its slightly larger sister, the INFYNITO 90. This includes the return of the popular all-season terrace, sheltered by an extension to the superstructure for "total privacy and protection in all weather conditions". However, the new model does herald several major changes, including the upper deck which was closed on the INFYNITO 90 but "totally open" on this unit. The INFYNITO 80 also has sustainability in mind with outfitting in lamellar teak, regenerated leather and other recyclable interiors. Exterior design is by Filippo Salvetti with interiors owed to IdeaeITALIA.
Solle One
Builder: Nautor Swan
Length: 23.2m
A landmark launch, Nautor Swan's first motor yacht will also be available to view at Cannes. The model was initially conceived as an accompanying chaseboat but evolved over the design process until it became an independent dayboat. The walkaround deck design is an ode to the Finnish shipyard's sailing expertise, while a 50-square-metre beach club and a top speed of 40 knots are sure to appeal to the motor yacht crowd. Accommodation is across three guest cabins and quarters for two crew.
Azimut Seadeck 7
Builder: Azimut
Length: 21.7m
Designed with the latest environmental technologies, the Seadeck 7 forms part of the yard's Seadeck series, conceived to bring the yard closer to the IMO’s CO2 emissions target ahead of the 2030 deadline. Together with Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez, Alberto Mancini developed the design which borrows inspiration from sister brand Benetti's bestselling Oasis range. There is a strong focus on al fresco living and a "Fun Island" at the stern of the vessel – a reinvented cockpit which is essentially a sea-level outdoor lounge. Accommodation is across four cabins.