The greatest show on earth

The Cannes Boat Show, or the Cannes Yachting Festival as it's now known, has quickly become the number one boat show in Europe and the one that many big manufacturers choose to launch their latest creations.

Billed as 'The Ultimate Rendez-Vous' the show will run from September 9-10 and organisers say there will be over 580 boats on show and in excess of  150 world premieres.

And while there is the best of the best in terms of European boats, there's also the best of the Aussie-made boat as well. The latest addition to the bespoke Belize Motoryachts fleet – the distinctive 54 Daybridge – will make her European debut at Cannes.

Already proving popular in Australia and the Americas, the Belize line of luxury motor yachts incorporates Australian practicality and superior sea-keeping with the latest in technological innovation from around the globe.

The show is held over three exceptional sites on the French Riviera: the Vieux Port, the Port Pierre Canto and the Palais des Festivals, located at either end of the famous Croisette in Cannes, we're told they are just right for hosting Europe’s leading in-water boat show.

As the first gathering of the European boat show season, the Cannes Yachting Festival brings together the key players in pleasure boating and international luxury yachting, whether they're exhibitors showcasing their new vessels, products, services or visitors eager to take advantage of a unique opportunity offered at this show: sea trials.

Many manufacturers take the opportunity at Cannes to line up their boats and offer prospective purchasers sea trials directly from the show.

With over 500 new boats on display in the water, the Vieux Port has everything it takes to present a preview of the finest new models from the leading international shipyards in a magnificent setting.

Both motorboats and sailing boats from 10 to over 50 metres will be on display and we're told that there will be over 40 catamarans on show as well. On land there will be literally hundreds of exhibitors dedicated to marine services and equipment for increasingly sophisticated boats.

Surely the Cannes Yachting Festival has to be every boating enthusiast's bucket list. It's certainly on ours.

We'll bring you more from Cannes as it comes to hand.