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. Unfortunately, history seems to repeat itself for the nautical industry. Spring salons, coinciding with the first peak of the Covid-19 outbreak, had been canceled one after the other in early 2020. Many professionals were counting on fall shows to mark the recovery. Growing health concerns also seem to be right. The Cannes Yachting Festival was France’s first casualty, revealed on August 21, and fears over the maintenance of the Grand Pavois seem legitimate. With the cancellation of Barcelona and Southampton, the Genoa boat show is the last major Mediterranean event and be maintained to date. Recreational boat builders and distributors are forced to invent new ways to reach boaters.
