Autumn Shows 2025
An abrupt halt in 2024, a gloomy spring: the autumn shows were awaited with as much apprehension as impatience. After the frenetic series of Cannes, Genoa, Southampton, La Rochelle, Barcelona and Annapolis, there seems to be some reason for hope.
As the Cannes Yachting Festival drew to a close, the sense of relief was palpable. If the word “historic” used by Festival director Sylvie Ernoult was a little strong, it was undoubtedly the height of her relief. On the manufacturers’ side, the message was equally reassuring, if not offensive. Because when the going gets tough, there’s nothing better than offering new models to attract buyers. The Bénéteau Group announced nine new sailing yachts. But Bruno Thivoyon, the Group’s CEO, remains cautious and retains a sense of humor: “After five years, I still don’t know what a normal year is in the boating industry! On the other hand, he is well aware that the industry is cyclical, and that now is a good time for Beneteau to increase its market share. As a result, the brands are expanding their offer as much as possible, with Lagoon unveiling both the Lagoon 38 and the Lagoon 82 this autumn. Beneteau is extending its range from the First 30, which has already sold around a hundred units, to the flagship First 60, expected this winter.
At Bali Catamarans, only the truth of the day counts. “Today is the new norm”, prefers to smile Boris Compagnon, its director, whose development plan calls for a new unit every year. In 2025, the Bali 5.2, designed to replace both the 4.8 and the 5.4, will be very well received, first in Cannes in September, then in Annapolis in October. In fact, the American show was eagerly awaited after the tax war unleashed by the Trump administration. At Metstrade Amsterdam, the CEO of the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association), Frank Hugelmeyer, described 2025 as a “lost season”, with an expected 10% drop in sales. And yet, with 30,000 visitors (the best attendance since 2021), Annapolis Sail organizers claim strong sales momentum. “Protectionism doesn’t stop buyers,” explains Romain Motteau, CEO of the Fountaine Pajot Group. Catamarans aren’t always imported, but “it’s harder on monohulls, which are a more local market, where people like to have Friday night regattas or sail at weekends close to home”, he adds. With the Southampton boat show still key to reaching the British market, the Grand Pavois, which welcomed 59,000 visitors, and “a sense of enthusiasm for sailing and innovation” still present, notes Dufour; and a Barcelona boat show moving upmarket and “strategic for the Mediterranean market”, according to Lagoon, the autumn confirms a certain revival of vitality in the sector, but the economic and geopolitical context remains tense.