Organizers of one of world’s largest in-water shows, the Cannes Yachting Festival, announced on August 21st that they are moving forward with the event scheduled for September 8-13.
It was confirmed after the French government said that major events, including Cannes Yachting Festival 2020, can be held again after September 1st.
At least this was what I have received in my inbox on 21st.
“After many weeks of uncertainty in light of the context, and intensive discussions with our clients, the City of Cannes, our partners and suppliers, and a great deal of work with local authorities, we are pleased to have reached the final stretch before the opening of the Festival”, said show manager Sylvie Ernoult.
Cannes Yachting Festival 2020 was cancelled
[source: yachtworld.com via Getty Images]
There would have been significant safety and social distance measures in place — following the General Health and Safety Plan recommended by France’s federation of the events industry — that were presented to the French government to ensure full compliance of steps taken to restrict the spread of the weird, uncontrollable covid-19.
Organizers said that “several different scenarios are in place for adapting the configuration of the event,” depending on what social distancing measures will be in place at that time. They were working with Cannes officials to provide additional space, if needed.
“Given the shutdown of many production sites and the ban on water-based pursuits, the nautical industry both in France and internationally has suffered a great deal and continues to suffer,” M-me Ernoult said. “This is why we have put all our efforts and expertise into ensuring that the 2020 edition takes place, thereby giving yachting industry the opportunity to come together, exhibit their products and new developments, and be reunited with their clients face to face.”
Everything seemed fine until Friday, August 22, when rumors started circulating that the show would be called off. Hours before, they’d been convinced that the team had put together the gold standard of health and safety plans which Sylvie Ernoult told the press there would be used by a lot of other shows and probably by other shows worldwide”.
Unfortunately the show was suddenly stopped “dead in the water” – news reluctantly confirmed by organizers on Sunday 23 August.
“Despite a very rigorous sanitary plan with a series of additional health and safety measures, presented by the Yachting Festival and deemed ‘satisfactory’ during a meeting held on 17 August at the sub-prefecture of Grasse in the presence of the prefecture’s authorities, the city of Cannes and the Regional Health Authority (ARS), the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, the only official empowered to rule ultimately, decided not to grant the dispensation that would have allowed the Yachting Festival to go ahead,” Ernoult announced in a press release.
“It is with our greatest regret and with some misunderstanding that we are therefore forced to announce the cancellation of the Cannes Yachting Festival 2020.”
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As much as I want to visit the festival, we really don’t have a choice but to follow the protocols for the people and the community.