Nordic Perspective: Ahead of Cannes Yachting Festival 2025
The Cannes Yachting Festival returns from 9–14 September 2025, setting the tone for Europe’s in-water boat show season. For Nordic yacht owners and buyers, it’s a key moment to spot trends shaping tomorrow’s boating. We will attend and hope to see you there!
Highlights to Watch
- Explorer Yachts & Catamarans: With demand rising globally, these vessels mirror the Nordic spirit — long-range cruising, stability in rough waters, and space for family life onboard. Will the Vikings return? A side note is that we have some very nice catamarans for sale. Some are sold, a couple are still available, see links below.
- Major Debuts: Cannes will showcase the sleek Giangrasso AP 24, four new Aquila power catamarans, and pioneering designs from Horizon – all showcasing quite rough and masculine exterior designs yet stylish and appealing interior. This points in directions to boats that are still not exhibited, maybe you want to take a look at our Navetta Eunoos 84 that can be sailing in 2027 if you are quick to start the journey with us, see link below.
- Also FROM the Nordics we see some attractive boats coming to conquer different market segments – Such as the Viknes 10, the already launched Marex 440 Scandinavia or the magnificent Hallberg Rassy 69, exhibited also last year. And who knows if Nimbus shows up with some new creations?
- Market Climate: In a somewhat challenged boat market buyers may find opportunities as price reductions average 10–12%. We in Skippern Yachts mostly deal with second hand boats, and now is the right time of year to buy with discounts. If you want a new boat, however, Cannes is absolutely a place to go for inspiration.
Photo credits: Marex Boats and Viknes.
Why It Matters for the Nordics
Nordic buyers look for durability, sustainability, and freedom to explore untouched waters.
In more expensive times, as we are in, cost-savings among manufacturers might lead to lower building quality, or more expensive boats – or it might lead to creative innovation. As boat users we might also step down from the ideal boat to the boat that suits our pockets. Well, don’t despair, you will always find a super used boat. The recycling of boats is adding to the sustainability, as it can take generations before a boat is finally scrapped.
While hybrid and electric propulsion is still limited, Cannes remains a stage where greener innovations can begin their journey. Taking into account the quite “electrified” Nordic consumer habits, both for housing and cars, we predict that hybrid-electric propulsion systems will become key to boaters when it is price efficient for us consumers.
And don’t forget that hybrid-electric systems have great advantages for the total energy system on board your yacht. You’ll have one or a few generators anyway, and quite some batteries, so why not extend it to cover electric propulsion as well?
Final Word
From fjords to the Riviera, Cannes 2025 offers Nordic enthusiasts a blend of innovation, opportunity, and inspiration. For those seeking their next yacht, this year’s festival could mark the perfect meeting of timing, design, and ambition. And yes – it has been some rough years for boat manufacturers worldwide, also in Europe. But our enthusiasm make us keep doing what we are doing, as we believe that we are born to be at the sea.
And by the way – We are sponsoring and hereby promoting Mercy Ships, an aid organisation that provide hope and healing around the world with their hospital ships. Please spend a few minutes to read about their work or watch this video:
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