Primus Marine at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026

From 8–13 September 2026, Primus Marine attended the Cannes Yachting Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious international yachting events, to meet with its global brand partners, discover the latest yacht innovations and discuss future opportunities for the Southeast Asian market.

Representing Primus Marine at the festival were Howard Prime, CEO and Co-Founder; Alfie Rowson, Head of Brokerage Phuket; and Patcharasri Kaewpu, Marketing Coordinator. The team attended as part of Primus Marine’s expanding regional presence across Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, representing an exceptional portfolio of international yacht brands including Aquila Boats, Beneteau, Excess Catamarans and SAY Carbon Yachts.

This year’s festival was particularly memorable, with several world premieres, European debuts and new-generation models presented across both Vieux Port and Port Canto. It also provided an important opportunity for Primus Marine to strengthen relationships with its brand partners and discuss future yacht launches, events and expansion plans in Southeast Asia.

Aquila BoatsMajor premieres across sail and power

Aquila Boats made a strong impression with important premieres across both its sailing and power catamaran ranges. One of the principal highlights was the world premiere of the Aquila 45 Sail, representing an exciting new chapter for the brand as it expands its expertise into the sailing catamaran market. The Aquila 45 Sail combines the space, comfort and innovation associated with Aquila with a new sailing-focused experience, and its debut attracted considerable interest from international visitors, yacht owners and industry professionals throughout the festival.

The power catamaran display was equally significant, featuring the world premiere of the Aquila 35 Sport and the European premiere of the Aquila 45 Sport, models that reflect Aquila’s continued focus on performance, versatility and modern onboard living. The line-up also included the Aquila 42 Coupe and Aquila 50 Yacht, allowing visitors to explore a broad selection of the brand’s sport, cruising and yacht models.

During the festival, Primus Marine held productive discussions with the Aquila team regarding the continued development of the brand in Asia, including future opportunities for Aquila Sail in Southeast Asia and the possibility of introducing its latest sailing models to Thailand. Following the successful international debut of the Aquila 45 Sail, Primus Marine looks forward to sharing further updates regarding Aquila Sail in the Asian market.

Excess CatamaransA new generation of sailing experiences

Excess Catamarans presented three distinctive models: the Excess 11 Rider’s Edition, Excess 13 and Excess 14. The display highlighted the unmistakable DNA of Excess Catamarans, a combination of responsive sailing, contemporary design, generous living spaces and a closer connection with the sea.

The Excess 11 Rider’s Edition brought a sportier personality to the range, while the Excess 13 continued to attract attention for its balance of sailing performance, comfort and intelligent onboard design. The Excess 14 was also presented with newly available options, giving visitors the opportunity to discover additional possibilities for personalisation and life on board.

During the festival, Howard Prime, CEO and Co-Founder, also congratulated Cosmas Grelon on his new leadership role with the Excess brand. Their meeting provided an opportunity to discuss future collaboration and the continued growth of Excess Catamarans in Thailand.

BeneteauA milestone year for iconic ranges

The festival marked another important milestone for Beneteau, with an extensive display spanning sailing yachts, day boats, motor yachts and long-distance cruising models. Among the major highlights were the unveiling of the new Swift Trawler 43 and Gran Turismo 40 Open Alpine Edition, representing the continued evolution of two of Beneteau’s most recognisable ranges while introducing new possibilities for comfort, performance and life on the water.

Motor yachts on display:

• Gran Turismo 35
• Gran Turismo 40 Open Alpine Edition
• Gran Turismo 50 Alpine Edition
• Swift Trawler 37
• Swift Trawler 43
• Grand Trawler 63

Day-boating range:

• Flyer 9 SUNdeck
• Flyer 10 Sport Top
• Antares 9
• Antares 11 Coupé
• Antares 12 Fly

Sailing yachts:

• First 36 SE
• First 60
• Oceanis 37.1
• Oceanis 47
• Oceanis 52

The wide-ranging display attracted strong interest throughout the festival and demonstrated the depth of Beneteau’s portfolio, from accessible day boating and family cruising to performance sailing and extended voyages. For Primus Marine, the festival provided a valuable opportunity to review the latest models, meet with the Beneteau team and gain further insight into the brand’s future direction.

SAY Carbon YachtsThe debut of the SAY 42 Sport

SAY Carbon Yachts delivered one of the most exciting moments of the festival with the presentation of the SAY 42 Sport. The Cannes Yachting Festival marked the first major international presentation of this striking new model. Developed with SAY Carbon Yachts’ advanced lightweight carbon construction and performance-focused philosophy, the SAY 42 Sport combines exceptional speed, precise handling and a highly distinctive design.

Alongside the SAY 42 Sport, visitors were also able to experience the impressive SAY 52, showcasing the brand’s approach to high-performance day boating on a larger scale. Throughout the festival, guests were invited to explore the yachts, meet the SAY Carbon Yachts team and experience the models through private viewings and sea trials. The participation of the SAY 52 made the occasion particularly meaningful for Primus Marine and reflected the close collaboration between the two companies as SAY Carbon Yachts continues to expand its international presence.

During Cannes, Howard Prime and Sales Director Constant Colders also discussed plans for the official presentation of the SAY 42 Sport in Singapore. Primus Marine is currently exploring an exclusive event at ONE°15 Marina Singapore, creating an opportunity for clients in Asia to discover the model firsthand. Further details will be announced once arrangements have been confirmed.

PartnershipsStrengthening international relationships

Beyond the yacht displays and premieres, the Cannes Yachting Festival remains an important platform for building relationships, exchanging market insights and developing future opportunities. Throughout the six-day event, the Primus Marine team met with brand representatives, yacht owners, prospective clients and industry professionals from around the world. These discussions covered new-model introductions, upcoming regional events, marketing initiatives and the continued expansion of premium yachting throughout Southeast Asia. The festival also provided valuable content and first-hand product knowledge that Primus Marine will use to support its clients across Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.