Antibes has the largest yachting harbour in Europe and it is the only one on the Côte d’Azur that possesses a quay large enough to display vessels of 30 to 120 metres for sale or charter.
For this reason, the town was the natural choice of venue on the coast for the first Antibes Yacht Show in April 2007, with the backing of Antibes Juan-les-Pins council, Port Vauban and the Antibes International Yacht Club. This year, the show is double in size to better represent the yachting community and associated services.
The first show was staged last year in glorious sunshine in Saint Roch cove. More than a kilometre of red carpet was rolled out along the old port to the lighthouse, passing the former Naval Opera House which has now become Bastion Saint Jaume, and continuing along Millionaires’ Quay.
There were some one hundred participants, 70 yachts from 15 to 60 metres on the water and 8,500 visitors. The Antibes Yacht Show passed its first sea trials with flying colours!
An exceptional range of services
The show naturally principally features yachts, but they are accompanied by representatives from the many facets of the yachting world and there are brokers, interior decoration companies, naval architects, services that include crew recruitment, Wifi connection, luxury jewellery and nautical publications. Even golf lovers can try out their swing and shoot five balls into the harbour where boats retrieve them after measuring the distance they were hit. The record to beat from last year is 279 metres. There is a VIP area and refreshments on the Bastion terrace which has been recently restored. A venue that is splendid on all counts, where visitors and participants can sample delicious local specialities provided by delicatessens in the town while gazing at the old town as the sun goes down. This majestic occasion is ended by a concert of mermaids, to the great delight of all.
1,500 square metres of quay and 15,000 square metres of land
The second Antibes Yacht Show promises to be a great success once again this year on a show area that has doubled in size and is enriched by the presence of many new exhibitors representing international brokerage and charter agencies.
As the show is staged at the start of spring, interested purchasers can find the yacht of their dreams as well as all necessary equipment and services, and impulse buyers have all the back-up services rapidly at hand.
Staged on over 1,500 square metres of quay and 15,000 square metres of land, everything is in train to welcome 200 vessels up to 80 metres in length and some 200 exhibitors. Organisers have not neglected other important aspects of the event and more than 1,000 parking places are available in the port as well as specially provided council spaces next to Fort Carré. A free shuttle bus takes visitors from Fort Carré to the show and there is also a special boat service. In addition, Antibes Yacht Club is equipped with a heliport and trips may be made by air from Antibes to Nice Côte d’Azur airport as well as to Monaco, Saint Tropez and other destinations.
