Welcome to the Cannes Yachting Festival — where the sun hits the water just right, the pontoons are basically catwalks, and you can walk from a 5-metre day boat to a 50-metre statement piece in about three minutes… if you don’t get distracted every six seconds.

Today’s guest is the person who makes this whole floating city run on time: Sylvie Ernoult, Director of the Cannes Yachting Festival — and, frankly, the only person here moving faster than the tenders.

And a quick warning: if you’re listening thinking, “Oh great, an interview at a boat show — relaxed pace, scenic background…” — you’ve never tried to catch Sylvie.

So we’re thrilled we managed to intercept her and her successor for long enough to put a microphone in front of them – it’s a quick but meaningful chat!

Sylvie has led the festival since 2013 (the show began in 1977 believe it or not), and 2025 marks her final edition as Director before handing over to her successor, Constance Brément . We’re going to talk about what it takes to run Europe’s biggest in-water boat show, why women make such great show organisers and what happens now as she hands over.

Sylvie Ernoult is the longtime director of the Cannes Yachting Festival, appointed show manager in 2013 (then under Reed Exhibitions France, alongside the Fédération des Industries Nautiques).

Since taking leadership, she has overseen the festival’s growth and the operational reality of running a two-site show across Vieux Port and Port Canto, with the event structured into distinct “worlds”/sectors to manage scale and visitor flow.

A few facts about Cannes Yachting Festival

2025 show stats

From official festival information and 2025 reporting, the 2025 edition landed around:

https://www.cannesyachtingfestival.com/en-gb.html

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Princess Yachts is not a brand that sponsors me or I am directly linked to, but my first decent size motor yacht was a Princess, so it has to be said, I have a soft spot for them. (The hint is in MY brand name)

But there is more to it than having owned one (and for that matter intending to own another in the future). Their values align with mine. Despite being a luxury brand, they have a humble approach to their clients. They believe the clients know more about the boats than they do and thus they as Will expresses in this interview “we have two ears and one mouth and use them proportionally” listening to what their clients need and responding accordingly.

Will and I met for the first time in 2018 when, as a Princess owner visiting the UK, my family and I visited the shipyard – at which they were both generous with their time and open with their tour – allowing us to truly experience where and why these beautiful motoryachts are built. 18,000 Princess Yachts have been built over time and their company is a substantial employer in Plymouth in the UK – with multiple generations working as craftspeople across all of the different build processes – from electrical looms to perfectly finished furniture, from fuel tank building to fibreglass laying,  Princess is proud of just how much of their build is done in-house.

Will has been with Princess Yachts 23 years this year, joining just before Southampton Boat Show in 2003. In his first few days he experienced the product first-hand on a delivery run to the show from Plymouth, Cornish Pasty in hand (on the flybridge of course so the crumbs blew away and didn’t upset the stylists at the show) - what a way to start!

In this interview we discuss how his boating life started, how stabilisation has changed how people go boating, the new products Princess are bringing out to cater to those client needs they have been listening to, and their return to building Superyachts – their last 40m was delivered some 7 years ago – so this is not new to them – it’s returning to a space they know meeting the demands of a market demanding bigger boats but also a client base that they don’t want to lose to another brand simply because they don’t have a boat big enough.

I hope you enjoy my chat with Will – aboard a beautiful Princess flybridge at Cannes Yachting Festival.

Let me know what you think in a review please!

UPDATE: Excitingly our new office base and Podcast Studio is coming together in the Marine Precinct in Coomera on the Gold Coast – looking forward to sharing more with you in the near future! Nicky x

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For more information on Princess Yachts go to:

https://www.princessyachts.com/

I am finishing off 2025 with a very important guest who leads an incredibly inspirational project that is dear to my heart in my continuous goal to have more women join me in the boating industry and boating generally.

Victoria Low and I met in 2023 at the ICOMIA Congress in La Rochelle. I interviewed her then but she's since changed to lead an incredibly important project she was actually part of the creation of 10 years ago.

A meeting after a sailing event which illustrated that the guys were being given opportunities for employment but women were not....inspired some incredible women to create a group which had an aspiration to "Create a group to change the world". 

The Magenta Project has this on it's website:

Mission & Objectives

Sailing is a unique sport—a test of skill, endurance, and the interplay

between humans, technology, and nature. It is one of few professional

sports where men and women compete together. Yet, despite this,

only 5% of professional sailors are women, and a mere 3%

represented across the entire marine industry.

race boats to the practical settings of boatyards and the wider marine

industry, women navigate a complex landscape of challenges that

mirror those of the corporate boardroom.

limited access to opportunities, support, difficulties in obtaining

certifications, and the pervasive impact of systemic bias.

award-winning global charity, is dedicated to building a

sustainable network and implementing impactful programmes.

for women in the sport and the wider marine industry,

by working to dismantle the barriers that hinder their full

participation and advancement.

You can see more about them here: 

https://themagentaproject.org/

Big thanks to Sunseeker International and Sunseeker London group

for hosting us on their beautiful Sunseeker 74 at Southampton Boat Show. 

https://www.sunseekerlondon.com/

https://www.southamptonboatshow.com/

Fairline Yachts has had its tumultuous times – has it reached safe hands now?

The boating industry is going through a transition period for the next 10 years or so, in my view. Those who created the manufacturing businesses, marinas and small enterprises are entering their retirement phase and, as a result, someone has to take over — or sadly, sometimes they simply shut down.

Often the skill set isn’t available in adequate numbers to pass it on, or the generational handover is not there, or simply not interested. In some cases, investment funds or private equity have recognised this shift and are entering a market that is entirely new to them.

It’s a unique industry. With funny words, unusual problems, and a solid requirement for reinvestment. What some of these businesses have historically lacked, however, is strong financial management skills, clear growth strategies and financial backing (banks have, for some unknown reason, always been extremely cautious with LVRs in this sector).

And so we get to my next podcast interviewee.

Starting in the banking industry before most of us would normally leave school, Paul Taylor brings a wealth of financial experience and strength as the new owner of Fairline Yachts, alongside his partner Robin Southwell OBE. Paul also had a period invested in marinas, with the second-largest European marina at Vilamoura in Portugal.

It was a delight to interview Paul on the back of a Fairline Targa 50 at the Southampton Boat Show. Having someone with a brain like his to delve into brings insight, intriguing ideas and genuine hope that Fairline is now in steady hands.

I hope you enjoy it.

🎙️ Listen to the episode:

🚤 Learn more about Fairline:

#TheBoatPrincess #FairlineYachts #BoatingIndustry #Leadership #MarineBusiness #SouthamptonBoatShow #Yachting #Podcast

Today I have something a little different for you. I am venturing outside the Boating Industry into the Hospitality Industry and the timing of the release of this podcast episode is critical.

As you know my ethos is to support women in business. A rising tide lifts all boats. This is a woman I have admired for a very long time as she quietly achieved in the background of a very famous husband and someone today I can gratefully call a friend. She is someone that has done so much more than many people realise, changed her career and adapted strongly to her new circumstances and through it all faced some challenges and moments many do not even know of. 

In this conversation we explore topics that actually reveal our similarities and endless connections and we discuss what's happening in her world, including the very exciting new restaurant at Coogee Sydney, which literally opens on Monday - 1st December. 

Thus the crucial timing of this release. She, as a PR expert, has got it covered but that doesn't mean I don't want to shout from the rooftops my support for her new venture and encourage as many as possible to enjoy what is the great cuisine (which is actually always complex yet simple flavours allowing the ingredients to shine through) of Rick Stein.

Rick is of course well known for his TV shows - truth be told he is my go to at the end of a stressful day - his dulcet tones about all things food and beautiful locations in Europe are the perfect escape.

I hope you enjoy my chat with Sas Stein, this bubbly, humble, high achieving human in London earlier this year.

Big thanks to Brown's Hotel in Mayfair for hosting us in one of the most beautiful suites I have ever seen.

https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/brown-s-hotel/

Here's the restaurant you need to visit soon:

https://www.ricksteinatcoogeebeach.com.au/

And here's my Girls Getaways location which is literally a 4 minute walk to Rick Steins at Mollymook (who buys a house based on it's location to a restaurant? Well me I guess! - You'll get that story in this episode)

https://venusgetaways.com.au/south-coast-girls-getaway-beaches-mollymook/

Much love

Nicky

x

I always say the best "job" you can have is one you create for yourself. I am a perfect example - I offered to help out at the Boat Brokerage at our marina when my kids were now at school and I had some more time on my hands and I have now been part of this amazing Boating Industry since - we sold 300+ boats in 7 years in that brokerage so I kind of get what's involved in brokering boats - and I can tell you it is not nearly as easy or as glamorous as it looks. Climbing under black covers on a stifling hot day, cleaning toilets, cleaning bilges, explaining why the owner needs to spend more money - we get to do it all - but the only bit you invariably see is the showing of the boat as you should see it after we have done all that :)  

When you go out on a successful sea trial in the fresh air and see the smile on the new owners face though - that's a feeling that makes it all worth while. From doing the negotiations to securing another listing brokerage can be thrilling, frustrating, joyous and disappointing all in one day - which is why it is such an interesting business to be in.

Brokerage now though is moving into different times. Social media is now an essential part of the process and how you present the boat is everything. That's why I wanted to interview Olivia. Her new business kept popping up in my Instagram feed over the last few years and it impressed me. It was clear they not only had a handle on boats but a handle on marketing and presentation too. 

Thus my interview with Olivia at Cannes Yachting Festival delves into how this all came about - her path is one she has basically created herself - and thus she has created the best "job" she could ever have. Join me as she explains how it all happened, why it all happened and what she thinks the future holds.

Enjoy.

Nicky

x

For more information on Browns International Yachts see:

https://www.browns-international.com/

To sign up for our Newsletter and hear more about what we are up to (including our new fashion collection for boating coming soon) 

See www.theboatprincess.com

As I fly to Monaco Yacht Show tomorrow I thought I might share one of my favourite superyacht brand interviews with you.

Vasco Buonpensiere is one of those people that charms you from the outset but you know underneath is a man that expects nothing but perfection and uses his excellent mind to do so whilst bringing the best out in others to achieve it. 

Commencing his career in law and becoming an extremely successful one, whilst lucrative, was not the life he wanted for himself.

And so he entered the world of Boat Brokerage.

Now he creates with his technically talented partner Ennio Cecchini yachts designed to pursue true exploration whilst in the height of luxury.

"I believe when you reach a certain spend on a yacht you should be able to determine the capability of that yacht not be restricted by it." says Vasco in this interview. As such there are currently Cantiere delle Marche yachts circumnavigating the globe but also resting in the mediterranean for the beauty of it. 

So as you listen to my chat with Vasco hear the joy in his voice of creating masterpieces for exacting clients and his clever business brain of how with a few laughs along the way. 

For more information on these spectacular brand see:

https://www.cantieredellemarche.it/

And if you are a client in Australia please contact my dear friends Paul Miletta and Domenico Giuffre - more lovely people to work with you would be hard pushed to find. 

Ok, so I will admit, as an Aussie that grew up in the UK that is constantly chasing the sunshine for my boating, Scotland would not be the first place I would think of to go boating. But then I tried it. And what a glorious boating experience it was.

You see, my dear friend Ashlee and her husband Mike own a Freedom Boat Club on Loch Lomond in Scotland and on a recent trip to the other side of the world we decided to add their location to our itinerary of boating industry visits and we discovered what an amazing place it was. Loch Lomond has some 35 places to stop off and enjoy something to drink or eat or an activity to participate in so it in fact lends itself beautifully to the Freedom Boat Club model.

So what is Freedom Boat Club and why did Ashlee and Mike decide to open one?

Freedom Boat Club is now a division of Brunswick since they acquired the brand in 2019.

It makes perfect sense for a boat manufacturer to acquire a Boat Club Franchise brand after all it secures boat sales of their boats but also is a way that curious people that would like to get into boating but literally have no idea how to do so, are brought into boating experiences in the easiest and most risk averse way and may well at some point convert to owners.

The model includes boats that are new or almost new, training, check in and checkout procedures each use and a joining fee and monthly fee rather than an outright boat purchase or having to have a boat sitting on the driveway and fighting for usage rights at the Boat Ramp with other boat owners.

Ashlee clearly got into it, and you will hear this in her voice, because she believed more people should be boating and that indeed SHE should be doing MORE boating. Having a club like this literally forces you to:

Go boating taking prospective clients out and in events

Spend time getting boats ready and taking care of them

Mixing with people that love boating

And as a mum – it exposes her kids to not only the world of boating but the world of running your own business.

So I hope you enjoy my chat with Ashlee.

She will reveal some of the challenges of mixing motherhood and business and her strategies for handling that (this is not their only business) and what boating really is like in this stunning part of the world.

We are Freedom Boat Club Owners in Australia too at our fabulous Empire Marina locations at Empire Marina Bobbin Head and Empire Marina Lake Macquarie and in Pittwater too – so if you live in Sydney, Northern Beaches, Central Coast, Sydney's North Shore, Lake Macquarie or Newcastle and would like to dip your toes into boating or maybe you’ve sold your boat and wish you hadn’t or you’ve got a busy family life and would still like to boat but don’t have time to even think about the boat let alone care for it, then get in touch.

Links below

Nicky

X

Our Bobbin Head Sydney and Pittwater Freedom Boat Clubs:

https://www.empiremarinas.com.au/freedom-boat-club

Our Lake Macquarie Boat Club:

https://empiremarinalakemacquarie.com.au/freedom-boat-club/

Ashlee and Mike's Freedom Boat Club on Loch Lomond, Scotland

https://fbclomond.co.uk/

Cherise Reedman – Yacht Pearls of Wisdom and the Superyacht Laundry Podcast

Working on a superyacht can be mentally challenging – in fact the tragic recent loss of young crew members has brought this subject front and centre all over the world – but what is being done about it? And how about the crew members that leave yachting and then hit the land without knowing what to do next or how to stay connected?

I know our The Boat Princess network here in Australia is one that brings connection, support and joy to those that attend our events – we’ll be doing some more work on this in the future to make the connection stronger because we recognise how important connection truly is – loneliness is rife and we want to fix that but what about further afield?

In this episode I have a very real chat about this and more with Cherise – a former head steward in the superyacht industry who now runs a podcast and network to try and address some of these issues but most importantly provide support and bring together those that need that support.

We discuss a whole bunch of important subjects in this podcast – from the financial side of being in the superyacht industry to the choices women have to make, from challenging the mindset that all women have to strive for a high flying career when in fact they want to travel and build practical skills instead, to how difficult it is sometimes for women to prioritise being a mum in a world of expectation and other demands.

Cherise has a fantastically British sense of humour so whilst we discuss these serious subjects it’s interjected with much entertainment and laughter too!

I hope you enjoy our chat as much as I did.

Nicky

X

PS We mention Cherise’s husbands business in this podcast which provides financial advice to Yacht Crew which some of you may be interested in – here’s a link to his business below

https://www.reedmanwm.co.uk/

Here’s the link to Cherise’s community and her podcast

https://www.yachtpearlsofwisdom.com/

In fact you can study and start your career in Theatre Production Management..and jazz bars.

In this interview I chat with Frank Hugelmeyer – President and CEO at National Marine Manufacturers Association about his career and his love of boating.

Frankie as I rather cheekily call him, is a dear friend that I have come to know through ICOMIA. As the new President of ICOMIA (The International Council of Marine Industry Associations) he leads the world in recreational boating bringing the MIA’s and BIA’s and as many boating associations of the world as possible together to discuss and hopefully solve the barriers, the struggles, the limitations, the new regulations and the successes they are all affected by – it’s amazing how many of them are the same the world over.

Given he’s been doing that for the NMMA for the last 6 years I would suggest he’s the perfect candidate for the task.

Frank is a man that loves to rise to a challenge.

Check out how he introduces himself on his Linked In below:

“Here’s something very important to know about me: I love to inspire teams to do extraordinary things, especially when the outcome or idea has never been done before.

Our chat covers where his love of boating began, his passion for this industry and what he sees for the future of it.  

You’ll note 3 of those activities involves boating. That’s because Frank doesn’t just work in the boating industry, he truly believes in how much it enriches peoples lives and what a disappointment life would be without it - and that’s why he diplomatically fights for it every day.

You can follow Frank here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankhugelmeyer/

And connect with his amazing team at the NMMA here: https://www.nmma.org/