There are 13 million pleasure boaters in France, and registrations of pleasure boats are increasing by around 12,000 a year.
There are more than 1,000 harbours and marinas for pleasure craft on the coast and inland waters, 8,500 km of navigable waterways and countless lakes and stretches of water, and France is Europe’s leading pleasure boat builder and the world’s second largest.
It’s a major industry that operates throughout the country, evolving and innovating like the rest of society to adapt to the demands of the 21st century yachtsman by looking to the future.
From biofuel based on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), to a gyroscope that soothes seasickness, Artificial Intelligence that detects any presence at sea or a remote-controlled mooring assistance system, the sector has never flourished so much in terms of the diversity of products and services!
These international innovations, which are working to make yachting ever more accessible, safe and high-tech, will be on show at the forthcoming Cannes Yachting Festival, the inaugural event of the boating season and Europe’s largest in-water boat show, which opens its doors from 10 to 15 September.
“Alongside the 700 boats on show, we are delighted to welcome a large number of equipment manufacturers and marine service providers who play a crucial role in our industry, hand in hand with the shipyards, by developing technologies, solutions, innovations and services that make sailing not only more enjoyable, more accessible and safer, but also more respectful of our seas and oceans.
Thanks to their work, the nautical ecosystem is evolving to the delight of boaters. Some of these products and services will make their world premiere at Cannes” says Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival. Here is a selection of some of the nuggets to be discovered from 10 September:
NAVIGATION COMFORT & SAFETY VAHANIAN MARINE – TOHMEI
Location: PAN366 – Boat builder based in France
No more seasickness! TOHMEI’s ARG (Anti Rolling Gyroscope) is a stabiliser that significantly reduces boat roll (around 70%). It doesn’t need any highpressure oil lines or external water hookup and only requires minimum maintenance, making it the safest and most reliable on the market.
SEA.AI – SENTRY
Location: PAN345 – Boat builder based in France
SEA.AI Sentry is a 360° auto-surveillance system for motor yachts that automatically detects any Unidentified Floating Objects (UFO) and provides a visual and audible alert so collision can be avoided. Using Machine Vision (or artificial vision), SEA.AI detects all floating objects day and night to alert the crew if necessary, including those that escape radars and the Automatic Identification System (AIS): buoys, boats without AIS and people in the sea… SEA.AI systems are simple to use and work easily with smartphones, tablets, tracers and computers.
ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS
AGL MARINE – MONAWA
Location: PALAIS091 – Boat builder based in France
AGL MARINE is firmly committed to stopping potable water being wasted cleaning and maintaining boats in marinas, shipyards, etc. Monawa’s first module includes a high-pressure pump that can pump seawater, and the second module desalinates this seawater into non-potable fresh water that can be used for boat cleaning and maintenance.
NPS YACHTING
Location: JETEE127 – Boat builder based in France
NPS Yachting specialises in after-sales services, repairs and spare parts. It plays a major role in refitting, all over the Mediterranean area. As a distributor of Zenoro generators and Xeamos emission control systems, NPS Yachting also offers the use of biofuel based on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a fuel solution compatible with most engines, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
NATPOWER H
Location: PALAIS083 – Boat builder based in Italy
NatPower H focuses on innovation in green hydrogen production and management. Recognising the role of hydrogen as a promising energy source, NatPower H is working to improve renewable energy yields through pioneering solutions. NatPower H develops and will operate the world’s first large-scale network of hydrogen refuelling stations for pleasure boats.
NAVIGATION 2.0
DOCKMATE
Location: PAN381 – Company based in Belgium
Mooring a boat can be complicated. Manoeuvring in the harbour can be tricky, especially in confined spaces or bad weather. That’s why Dockmate has developed the Dockmate Positioning System (DPS), a system that integrates the finesse of wireless remote control systems with the precise accuracy of dynamic positioning. This remote control makes docking in all conditions easy and safe.
MERCURY MARINE – SKYHOOK
Location: POWER103 – Company based in France
Today, it’s possible to fix your position on the water without using an anchor. At Mercury, this technology is called Skyhook, and it comes as standard on most of the brand’s engines. It uses a GPS sensor to lock position, then works with and drives the motors to maintain position and heading regardless of wind or current.
