‘Sudden and unexpected’ cancellation of Cannes Yachting Festival

Despite a very rigorous, sanitary plan with a series of additional health and safety measures, presented by the Yachting Festival and deemed “satisfactory” during a meeting held on 17 August at the sub-prefecture of Grasse in the presence of the prefectural authorities, the city of Cannes and the Regional Health Authority (ARS), the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, the only official empowered to rule ultimately, decided not to grant the dispensation that would have allowed the Yachting Festival to go ahead, says a statement released by the organisers, who appear to have been blind-sided by the decision to cancel.

The statement continues with a recap of events. Three weeks ago, it says, following the speech by Franck Riester, the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, a decree published on 27 July 2020 confirmed that trade shows could be held from 1 September, without a restriction on the number of visitors.

Among other measures, the statement says, the Yachting Festival’s health protocol stood out as being the first in France to receive APAVE “Safe & Clean” certification.

However, on 11 August 2020, less than two weeks after the announcement of Minister Riester, the government through the Prime Minister reversed this announcement suddenly and unexpectedly, and decided to ban, because of worsening of the health situation, the holding of events of more than 5,000 people in France until October 30, 2020, a decision which resulted in the decree published on August 13.

The Yachting Festival team, in order to be able to urgently decide whether or not to hold the show, on the one hand, has questioned a significant part of the shipyards who declared themselves in favour of maintaining the show by a large majority despite the latest developments and, on the other hand, filed an emergency exemption request with the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture.

Following a new meeting on site in Cannes Thursday afternoon, in the presence of the Prefect, the only person empowered to rule in fine, the latter decided not to give the expected exemption.

“This decision is a huge disappointment for the entire nautical industry, with exhibitors in the lead, the City of Cannes and its professionals, the show’s service providers and the Reed team, who have worked together relentlessly for months to prepare the 2020 edition in the best possible conditions taking into account the context,” says Sylvie Ernoult, show director. “I would also like to thank the City of Cannes, which has been very active alongside us in this final stretch.

“The implementation of the health protocol that we drew up, certified by APAVE and recognised as completely satisfactory by the prefecture’s services and the Regional Health Authority (ARS), would have made the 2020 Yachting Festival one of the safest events in terms of health in France. Also, it is with great surprise and incomprehension that we take note of the prefect’s decision.”