Sailing Catamarans to See at the Cannes Yachting Festival
Well, it’s sunny and hot as usual in Cannes for the Yachting Festival this September. The show always seems to coincide with the last of the hot weather. Wear shorts if you plan on visiting!
Here is a selection of 15 sailing catamarans to look out for. The Festival is awash with new models this year, this is the busiest I have seen the manufacturers in years, if not ever.
The softer market conditions are pushing many of the main players to double down on their investments and, in addition, there are more boats from yards that traditionally target the US, which is no doubt down to Trump’s tariff policies.
So Kinetic are here with the KC54, Balance with a new 580 and Seawind have the 1170 and 1370 moored up close to the Gunboat 72.
There’s also plenty to see in the power section, but we’ll leave that for another day!
This isn’t our pick of the best, rather a bite-sized chunk of the yachts that you can visit at the show. We’ll post some follow ups of the rest of the yachts worth seeing.
Introduction
The Cannes Yachting Festival is full of multihulls this year, it’s the most vibrant section of the sailing display. There are debuts of the newest models showcasing advances in sustainability, offshore capability, and luxury. Here are some top highlights across the spectrum—performance, explorer, comfort and luxury with models that represent the future direction of catamaran design and bluewater cruising.
Swisscat 55
A semi-custom, high-performance Swiss bluewater catamaran, the Swisscat 55 impresses with its precision engineering, striking design by François Pérus and Romain Scolari, and strong emphasis on robust construction and owner customisation. Advanced hull infusion and options for short-handed operation make it a favourite among discerning offshore cruisers. It’s at the end of the show near the boat taxi jetty to the power boat show. Don’t miss it.
Lagoon EIGHTY 2
Lagoon’s new flagship debuts with sustainable build materials and innovations in luxury, offering huge interior volumes with an emphasis on “natural” resin composites. It’s an example of how high-end sailing yachts are moving towards a more eco-build without sacrificing comfort.
Gunboat 72 Flybridge
The first Gunboat with a true flybridge, this 72-footer redefines performance-luxury multihulls. With advanced VPLP engineering, and exceptional speeds, paired with a dynamic and luxurious interior for both family cruising and high-end owner experiences. Gunboat launched their new Fusion range at the show – looking forward to seeing the new “Gran-Turismo” range in the water.
Garcia Explocat 52
Garcia’s Explocat 52 is a unique aluminium explorer built for high latitude ocean passages and polar expeditions. It blends high performance and ruggedness with comfortable living spaces, allowing adventurous owners to access remote destinations safely and self-sufficiently.
Vision 444
This South African catamaran is a well thought-out design, a sailor’s cat that is easy to maintain and fun to sail. The yacht is gaining attention for its lightweight construction, innovative interiors, and bluewater capabilities. Designed for sportier cruising with easy handling, Vision 444 is ideal for Mediterranean and offshore programs. Vision are also launching a 484 in the near future.
Windelo 54 Yachting
An eco-hybrid French design, the Windelo 54 stands out for its electric propulsion systems, huge solar array, modular living spaces, and commitment to sustainability. Its advanced construction and innovative “eco cruise” systems make it a market leader for green yachting. The new 54 Yachting on display in Cannes has the new “Nordic Zen” interiors.
Bali 5.2
Bali introduces its replacement for the 4.8 and 5.4 at Cannes 2025, with ultra-flexible interiors (up to 6 cabins/16 berths), open-plan layouts, and lithium electric systems—ideal for families or charter operation seeking convenience and space. Although they have not officially launched their eco-drive, this boat was launched with hybrid power for testing.
Leopard 52
This new model showcases Leopard’s reputation for combining rugged reliability with modern comfort. Noted for efficient hull design, large social zones, and all-around versatility for cruising and charter. And she comes with electric hybrid drive like her smaller sister the 42, 46.
Excess 11, 13, 14
The Excess range is all about sporty, fun cruising with responsive handling, modular layouts, and distinctive styling. All three models feature open cockpits, efficient rigs, and high value for those transitioning from monohulls to the multihull lifestyle. By the end of 2025, Excess estimate that they will have 500 boats on the water, quite an achievement for a company that is 6 years old. The brand launched at Cannes in 2019.
C-Cat 65
The C-Cat 65 debuts as a high-performance Italian carbon cruiser with extensive use of FEM/CFD design, custom luxury interiors, and bluewater speed. It will appeal to owners with deeper pockets wanting customisation backed by technical excellence. She’s a real stunner, arguably the boat to see at the show. They also have a 48 here.
Sunreef Catamarans
Sunreef has several models, including the 80 Eco, with her electric propulsion and custom luxury. The size of these luxury cats is imposing. Go and take a look, they are at the end of the show closest to the town
Article Summary
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these have been selected for pushing boundaries—whether in explorer robustness, sustainable propulsion, creative layouts, or world-class luxury, giving a guide to some of the industry trends and must-see models of the year.
TIP: There is a large number of boats to see at the show, so our advice would be to prioritise your list of boats and make a plan for your visit. We can guarantee you won’t have time to see them all! Enjoy the show!