In July, a Paris court of appeal ruled in favor of RX France (formerly Reed Expositions France) for the management of the Cannes Yachting Festival, clearing the way for the Sept. 7-12 event on the Côte d’Azur. RX France is now contracted to manage the show for the next 20 years.
The decision is a setback to the French Boating Industry Federation, which had waged legal proceedings for the last five years to challenge RX France’s management rights to the Yachting Festival. It’s the third time the federation’s claims were dismissed, following decisions in 2017 and 2020.
“This is a victory for common sense and good business practices,” RX France chief executive Michel Filzi said in a statement. “Despite the legal proceedings, we have continued to innovate.”
Show director Sylvie Ernoult echoed Filzi’s sentiment, and said plans continue to move forward for this year’s event, which is scheduled for Sept. 7-12.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way that the Cannes Yachting Festival has evolved, [and] despite the context, we have been working non-stop to ensure that this year’s September edition in Cannes is a success, including developing the Port Canto exhibition zone,” Ernoult said.
This year’s festival promises a slew of premieres from builders such as Azimut,
Invictus, Numarine, Sirena, Riva, Wally and others.
This article was originally published in the September 2021 issue.
