Cannes Yachting Festival 2025: Naval Design in the Spotlight
The Art of Naval Design: Balancing Dreams and Engineering at the Cannes Yachting Festival
Naval design is a delicate balancing act, requiring consideration of everything above and below the waterline. Silhouette, light, flow, comfort, safety, technical constraints, and environmental impact all play a role in each design decision.
As the director of the yachting festival explains, “There’s something deeply moving about naval design: it’s the intersection of a dream of escape and a feat of engineering, design, and craftsmanship. Design is more than just style; it’s a driver of innovation, a lever for transition, and a unique signature for each boat.”
Featured Design Studios
Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design: Every Line with Intention
Based in La Rochelle, this 19-person firm designs sailboats and catamarans ranging from 10 to 45 meters for shipyards such as Gunboat, Amel, Fountaine Pajot, Hanse, Allures, and Garcia. Each line is carefully considered to serve a specific purpose, and each space is designed to offer new onboard living experiences.
Olivier Racoupeau states, “Each project is a blank page. It all starts with listening to the shipyard or the end client: their needs, desires, and constraints. Then comes the creation.” With a focus on sustainability, the studio naturally incorporates recycled, recyclable, or bio-sourced materials. “It’s obvious. And it’s often our children who remind us,” he adds.
Since 2008, Isabelle Racoupeau has structured the studio’s interior design approach. Her mission: to create livable interiors where every centimeter counts. “Working on a boat isn’t just about decorating; the light moves, the floor pitches, the space is limited… and everything must withstand humidity, salt, and sun.”
Piaton Yacht Design: Revealing, Not Imposing
Useful elegance is the hallmark of Piaton Yacht Design. Originating in brand design, the agency turned to yachting in 2010. In 2012, CNB entrusted them with creating the interiors for its semi-custom range, firmly establishing their expertise in naval design.
“We don’t seek to impose a style, but to serve the brand’s DNA,” emphasizes Clara Piaton de Turckheim.
The agency works closely with shipyards and architects to create sustainable, functional spaces that are sensitive to the boat’s identity.
In 2025, they are designing the interiors of three world premieres presented in Cannes: the Bali 5.2, the CNB 62 (Solaris), and the Sun Odyssey 415 (Jeanneau). These new additions join already acclaimed models such as the Bali 5.8, the Excess 13, and the CNB 78.
Jean-Marc Piaton summarizes, “What’s on the water should always be beautiful, whether it’s a small cruiser or an exceptional yacht.” At Piaton, luxury is never ostentatious but embodied in harmonious details designed to adapt to new rhythms and a generation of users seeking meaning.
Dixon Yacht Design: British Refinement and Ingenuity
An international reference in yacht design, Dixon Yacht Design has embodied a vision for over twenty years where performance, elegance, and technical ingenuity are one. This year, the studio unveils the Pearl 63, an evolution of the Pearl 62, as a world premiere.
Bill Dixon comments, “The Pearl 63 retains the spirit of the 62 but introduces a sharper exterior design and better flow, with particular attention to detail.” Inside, renowned decorator Kelly Hoppen has redesigned the layout to enlarge living areas and optimize circulation, creating an atmosphere that is both warm and sophisticated.
At Dixon, every innovation is rooted in use and sustainability. Simon Coles, Senior Designer, explains, “The future of yachting is to design boats that their owners will want to keep, not replace.” The studio is committed to sustainable design choices, integrating alternative energies, embedded technologies, and responsible materials.
Espen Øino International: Style Serving Function
Based in Monaco, Espen Øino International has established itself as a global leader in custom naval design. Their method? Observe, question, and respond to real-world use.
This year, the studio will present the Windy SR40, a high-end chase boat designed to accompany yachts from 30 to 60 meters. Its high-performance hull, safe onboard movement, and innovative sliding doors embody the studio’s rigor.
“This boat was born out of a need. We wanted a fast, elegant, and functional chase boat in every way. It didn’t exist. So we designed it,” confides Espen Øino.
His philosophy never wavers: “We don’t design a boat; we respond to a need.” Onboard circulation, natural ventilation, durable materials, and reflection on hybrid systems make the SR40 a concrete example of intelligent design that is both aesthetic and responsible.
Cannes Yachting Festival: A Showcase of Naval Design
With over 700 boats on display, dozens of world launches, and an expected attendance of over 55,000 visitors, the Cannes Yachting Festival once again transforms the Vieux Port and Port Canto into a global showcase of nautical creation. This year, the spotlight is on the richness of naval design – a profession of shadow and precision.
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