"We're here for fun and to dream a little": at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the second-hand section is attracting followers

Since yesterday and the launch of the show, the docks of the Cannes Yachting Festival have been buzzing with excitement. The same is true on the waterfront, between the old port and Port Canto, where the numerous shuttles transporting visitors pass by at a frenetic pace.

Sitting on the upper deck of one of them, Nadine, Olivier, Pierre and Hélène, all four retirees, have dropped anchor at the flagship yachting show on the Côte d'Azur to enjoy themselves and, why not, do some shopping. "We're here for fun and also to dream a little," says Olivier, already the owner of a Léopard 40 Powercat, a catamaran about 12 meters long moored at the Port Vauban in Antibes. With his wife Nadine, they live between Paris, Brittany, Sainte-Maxime, in the Var, and therefore the city of ramparts. Alongside them, Hélène and Pierre also own a boat, anchored in Golfe-Juan.

"We're coming to see what's going on, so we can possibly move up a category. We have grandchildren, and our boat quickly becomes cramped." His friend Olivier's advice? "Move to a 10-meter boat... Oh, there are sellers offering used yachts at Port Canto? That's good news, we'll go take a look."

Two ports, two atmospheres

Once you disembark, the scenery is completely different. Two ports, two atmospheres, in short. On the old port side, space is lacking. The docks are crowded and luxury is omnipresent. Each manufacturer offers a shaded terrace with solid wood furniture, most often with an adjoining bar and refreshments served in designer containers. "VIP" restaurant terraces also offer breathtaking views and à la carte gourmet menus.

At the other end of the Croisette, a large terrace equipped with long wooden tables placed on trestles allows the many food trucks parked there to offer a place to sit and eat. While the boats moored at Port Canto continue to charge exorbitant prices, especially for sailboats, the second-hand section is notable for its more working-class atmosphere.

Chloé, a hostess for the Monaco-based Moravia company, screens visitors interested in the Riva T57 parked behind her. A monster measuring over 28 meters long, it left the shipyard in 2019. Alessandro, her broker partner, takes over: "We're present at the show every year, with a different boat each time. This one is currently worth €6.36 million – it was worth €9 million new – which is very interesting given that the model is still in production. The price difference is not insignificant. And Riva is an excellent brand. It's the Rolls-Royce of yachting."

However, it's difficult to close a deal on the spot. The sums involved are so high that it requires extreme protection. But once interest is confirmed, Chloé, like Alessandro, hopes to close the sale within the next few months.

A 44 meter yacht from 2001? From… 8M euros

With their eyes fixed on the yachts on one side and the toys on the other—all kinds of gadgets and other accessories, motorized or not—a Bavarian family is strolling. Lavinia, Sarah, and their two parents, Rose and Toby, are in Cannes on vacation. The Cannes Yachting Festival? An "extra treat," one could translate from German, or a fun and relaxed outing that wasn't necessarily planned but was appreciated. "Buy a yacht? Why not one day. We should already think about where we could moor it. We have a budget of 100,000 euros, I'd say. We have to see what that allows us in terms of purchasing power."

A yacht with a few years of sailing experience already under its belt? Not sure it's any more affordable. Carla Polizzi is a hostess for the pre-owned dealership Idea Yachting. Behind her is a 44-meter-long New Master Baglietto, which left the factory in 2001. It has an outdated interior that needs renovating, but brand-new machinery (inset photo). Price? Nearly 8 million euros. The budget will have to be revised upwards...