Azimut Fly 5355' 1"
View Specs & ReviewTwo harbors on the festival bay — the Lérins on the doorstep
Yachting in Cannes
A Minted Location · Cannes, France
If you want your berth where the yachting year gets decided, Cannes is the bay: two complementary harbors at either end of the Croisette, the Îles de Lérins just off the beach, and each September the industry itself ties up at your doorstep. The Vieux Port, managed by IGY Marinas for the Ville de Cannes at the foot of Le Suquet, holds 645 berths — 58 of them dedicated superyacht berths — for yachts to 459 ft (140 m) on a 16 ft (5 m) maximum draft. Port Pierre Canto, the city-run marina at the Croisette's eastern end, adds 553 berths for yachts to 295 ft (90 m) in 6.6 to 23 ft (2 to 7 m) of water.
Minted Yachts is the American buyer's broker in these waters, and every figure below comes from each port's or authority's own published pages — the same standard behind every yacht review on this site.
For an owner, Cannes is really three waterfronts: the Vieux Port beside the Palais des Festivals, Port Canto's quieter Croisette end with the bay's year-round fuel dock, and the Mandelieu–Théoule shore across the Golfe de la Napoule, where the big berth counts, the boatyard and the dry stacks live. The Lérins sit in the middle of it all — 30 free city mooring buoys in season, and Posidonia anchoring rules worth knowing everywhere else.
Where to keep a yacht in Cannes
Cannes dockage sorts into three clusters. The Vieux Port — IGY-managed for the city, beside the Palais des Festivals on the quays of Le Suquet — is the marquee address: 645 berths, 58 dedicated superyacht berths, yachts to 459 ft (140 m) and 16 ft (5 m) of draft, with fueling and boatyard services on site. Port Pierre Canto at the eastern end of the Croisette is the municipal counterweight: 553 berths to 295 ft (90 m), VHF canal 9 with access around the clock, free wastewater pump-out to 82 ft (25 m), and the bay's self-service fuel dock — with the small Port du Mouré Rouge beyond it for tenders and chase boats to 29 ft (8.99 m). Across the Golfe de la Napoule, Mandelieu and Théoule carry the volume: Port La Napoule's 970 places to 171 ft (52 m), Port de la Rague's working yard-and-fuel port to 148 ft (45 m), the 1,769-berth river marina at Cannes Marina, Port Inland's dry stack, and three small commune ports down the Esterel shore. Figures below are what each port publishes about itself.
Marinas
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vieux Port de Cannes (IGY)The marquee harbor of the bay, quays dating to 1838 — maximum draft 16 ft (5 m); IGY lists both 55 yacht berths over 79 ft (24 m) and 58 dedicated superyacht berths (both figures as stated). Hosts the Yachting Festival's motor-yacht half. | Cannes — foot of Le Suquet, beside the Palais des Festivals | 459 ft | 645 | Fueling and boatyard services on site, per IGY |
| Port Pierre CantoBuilt in the mid-1960s by Pierre Canto — the first private pleasure port in Europe, city-managed since 2002. Depth 6.6–23 ft (2–7 m), free wastewater pump-out to 82 ft (25 m), Pavillon Bleu since 2008. Hosts the Yachting Festival's sail and superyacht half, and La Guérite's shuttle departs from its capitainerie. | Cannes — eastern end of the Croisette | 295 ft | 553 | Self-service fuel 6:00–22:00, 7 days, year-round |
| Port du Mouré RougeMunicipal small-boat port for the tender and chase-boat fleet — boats to 29 ft (8.99 m), 4.6 ft (1.40 m) maximum draft, slipway, 24/7 video surveillance; nautical base run by Cannes Jeunesse. During the Film Festival, La Guérite's shuttle shifts here. | Cannes — Boulevard Eugène Gazagnaire, east of Port Canto | 29 ft | 450 | — |
| Port La NapouleThe Mandelieu shore's headline marina — 970 places to 171 ft (52 m) per the commune's port listing, with five 66 x 33 ft (20 x 10 m) catamaran berths on the Marc Pajot Quay. Pavillon Bleu for 23-plus years, Ports Propres certified, EV charging and e-bike hire on the quays. | Mandelieu-La Napoule — below the Château de la Napoule, west side of the Golfe de la Napoule | 171 ft | 970 | — |
| Cannes Marina (Port de Cannes Marina)The largest berth count in the market: the commune lists 1,769 river berths for 20–39 ft (6–12 m) boats. A base for tenders and day boats, not the yacht itself. | Mandelieu-La Napoule — on the Siagne river, inland from the Golfe de la Napoule | — | 1,769 | — |
| Port de ThéoulePublicly managed village port on the Esterel shore — 176 berths, six of them at the landing stage; restructured in 2012, European Ports Propres certified. Figures from the official Théoule-sur-Mer tourism office. | Théoule-sur-Mer — village center, western rim of the Golfe de la Napoule | — | 176 | — |
| Port de la FigueiretteThe furthest-west berths of the market, publicly managed and Port Propre certified — 236 places under the red rock of the corniche. | Théoule-sur-Mer — Miramar quarter, under the Esterel corniche | — | 236 | — |
| Port la GalèreThe private port of the Port la Galère estate — 169 places per the official Théoule DMO listing. | Théoule-sur-Mer — private marine estate on the Esterel shore | — | 169 | — |
Yacht clubs
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yacht Club de CannesOrganizer of the Régates Royales (48th edition, 19–26 September 2026) and host of Dragon, Finn and classic-yacht fleets, with a sailing school and an on-site restaurant at Port Pointe Croisette. | Cannes — Port Pointe Croisette (Palm Beach), Boulevard de la Croisette | — | — | — |
Fuel docks
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Slips | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Canto fuel stationThe bay's primary fuel point per the Ville de Cannes — self-service around the season and the clock's useful hours. The Vieux Port lists fueling via IGY, and Port de la Rague runs the fuel quay on the Mandelieu side. | Cannes — inside Port Pierre Canto | — | — | Self-service, 6:00–22:00, 7 days a week, year-round |
Figures are as each facility publishes them on its own site; blank cells mean the facility doesn't state a number. Confirm slip availability and current rates directly — or ask us to make the calls.
Cruising from Cannes
The Lérins buoy field. Anchoring off the islands is governed by Posidonia-seagrass protection, and the answer the city built is the ZMEL in the anse Sainte-Anne on the north shore of Île Sainte-Marguerite: 30 visitor mooring buoys across 6.5 hectares, banded by size — 11 buoys for boats of 20–26 ft (6–8 m), 8 for 26–39 ft (8–12 m), 7 for 39–49 ft (12–15 m) and 4 for 49–66 ft (15–20 m) — free of charge under the arrêté inter-préfectoral that created it, in service 1 May to 30 September each year and operated by the commune of Cannes.
The rules of the anse Sainte-Anne. Declare arrival on VHF canal 9 or by phone (04 93 94 37 71, 9h–18h; the field is administered from Port du Mouré Rouge). Stays cap at 7 consecutive nights and 21 nights per season, and the buoy must be free by 12:00 on departure day. Boats over 66 ft (20 m) have no buoy here — plan Sainte-Marguerite as a day stop or stay in the marinas. Outside the field, the Ville de Cannes instructs boaters to anchor only on sand, avoiding the Posidonia meadows, and black water goes ashore in port — the whole shore sits inside the Natura 2000 "baie et cap d'Antibes – îles de Lérins" site.
The Croisette row. The famous beach tables from the Palais des Festivals to Palm Beach publish no boat access on their own sites, so the honest play is a berth in either port and a short walk — Le Bâoli's stated address is inside Port Pierre Canto itself.
West across the Golfe de la Napoule. The red-rock Esterel shore is the bay's second act: Port La Napoule below the château (VHF canal 9, 8 am–8 pm), the working Port de la Rague with the Mandelieu side's fuel quay, and the small commune ports of Théoule, La Figueirette and the private Port la Galère. No official anchoring figures were verified for the Théoule coves this pass — treat them as a scenic waypoint until the préfecture or commune publishes numbers.
September. The Yachting Festival fills both harbors 8–13 September 2026 and the Régates Royales follow 19–26 September — book berths around those weeks, not into them.
- ZMEL Sainte-Anne — Îles de Lérins — North shore of Île Sainte-Marguerite — anse Sainte-AnneThe city-run mooring field protecting the Posidonia meadows of the Natura 2000 site: 6.5 hectares, buoys banded 11 for 20–26 ft (6–8 m), 8 for 26–39 ft (8–12 m), 7 for 39–49 ft (12–15 m), 4 for 49–66 ft (15–20 m) — free of charge under the arrêté inter-préfectoral. Boats over 66 ft (20 m) have no buoy; outside the field, anchor only on sand, avoiding the seagrass, and discharge black water in port.
Service, refit & supplies
Shipyards & refit
| Name | Where | Max yacht | Dockage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port de la RagueThe working port of the bay: boatyard (chantier naval), careening area, dry port, slipway, wastewater service and fuel quay, municipal since January 2022. Berth count is stated two ways — 423 year-round places on the port's own site, 560 places overall on the commune's — confirm with the capitainerie. | Mandelieu-La Napoule — western shore of the Golfe de la Napoule, toward Théoule | 148 ft | Working port and full marina — yachts to 148 ft (45 m); +33 4 93 93 64 60 |
| Port InlandDescribed by the commune as Europe's first dry-stack port — 800 places for motorboats to 36 ft (11 m) and 6 tonnes. Where the bay's tender and day-boat fleet winters. | Mandelieu-La Napoule — on the Siagne canal | 36 ft | Dry-stack storage on monthly or annual contracts |
On the Cannes calendar
Cannes Yachting Festival — 8–13 September 2026, Europe's flagship in-water show held across both harbors: motor yachts in the Vieux Port, sail and superyachts at Port Canto. The organizer (RX, for the Fédération des Industries Nautiques) counts 56,600 visitors, 680-plus exhibitors and 710-plus boats — plan on both ports and the Lérins buoy field being spoken for that week.
Régates Royales de Cannes — the 48th edition runs 19–26 September 2026, organized by the Yacht Club de Cannes: Big Boat, Époque Aurique, Époque Marconi, Classic Marconi and Modern Classic divisions racing the bay, with the fleet based off the Vieux Port's Quai Laubeuf.
The season's rhythm — the Lérins ZMEL operates 1 May to 30 September, La Guérite serves May through September, and the Vieux Port capitainerie stretches from winter weekday hours to daily 8 am–8 pm in June–August, per the Ville de Cannes.
Yachts we'd shortlist for Cannes
Reviewed the same way as everything on this site — specifications verified against the builder's own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I berth a large yacht in Cannes?
Two harbors. The Vieux Port, IGY-managed beside the Palais des Festivals, takes yachts to 459 ft (140 m) on a 16 ft (5 m) maximum draft — 645 berths, with 58 dedicated superyacht berths. Port Pierre Canto, city-run at the eastern end of the Croisette, takes yachts to 295 ft (90 m) across 553 berths in 6.6–23 ft (2–7 m) of water, VHF canal 9, access around the clock. Every figure is from the port's own published pages.
Where do I fuel in the bay of Cannes?
Port Pierre Canto runs the bay's primary fuel point: self-service, 6:00 to 22:00, seven days a week, year-round, per the Ville de Cannes. The Vieux Port lists fueling services on site via IGY, and on the Mandelieu side Port de la Rague operates a fuel quay (quai d'avitaillement) at the working port.
How do the mooring buoys at the Îles de Lérins work?
The ZMEL in the anse Sainte-Anne, north shore of Île Sainte-Marguerite, runs 30 free visitor buoys from 1 May to 30 September, banded by size: 11 for boats of 20–26 ft (6–8 m), 8 for 26–39 ft (8–12 m), 7 for 39–49 ft (12–15 m), 4 for 49–66 ft (15–20 m). Declare arrival on VHF canal 9 or 04 93 94 37 71; stays cap at 7 consecutive nights and 21 per season, and the buoy must be free by 12:00 on departure day. The commune of Cannes operates it under an arrêté inter-préfectoral.
Is Cannes a good base for an American yacht owner?
If you want the Mediterranean season within reach of your own swim platform, few bays argue harder: two harbors that jointly host the industry's flagship show each September, free city moorings off a protected island facing the Croisette, and a working port across the bay for the yard work. The trade-off is the calendar — September belongs to the show and the Régates. Minted Yachts is the American buyer's broker in these waters: send a Broker Request, or TS@MintedYachts.com / +1 (404) 805-9819.
Can I anchor off the Îles de Lérins?
Only with care for the seagrass. The Ville de Cannes instructs boaters to anchor solely in sandy areas, avoiding the Posidonia meadows — the islands sit inside the Natura 2000 "baie et cap d'Antibes – îles de Lérins" site, and the ZMEL buoy field exists precisely to limit anchoring damage. Boats over 66 ft (20 m) get no buoy, so plan Sainte-Marguerite as a day stop on sand or stay in the marinas, and discharge black water in port.
What happens in Cannes during the Yachting Festival?
The Cannes Yachting Festival runs 8–13 September 2026 across both harbors — motor yachts in the Vieux Port, sail and superyachts at Port Canto — with 56,600 visitors, 680-plus exhibitors and 710-plus boats, per the organizer. Both ports are given over to the show, so a visiting owner should plan berths around that week, and the Régates Royales follow 19–26 September with the classic fleets off Quai Laubeuf.
Where do boats get hauled and serviced near Cannes?
Port de la Rague, on the Mandelieu shore of the Golfe de la Napoule, is the bay's working port: boatyard, careening area, dry port, slipway, wastewater service and fuel quay, taking boats to 148 ft (45 m), municipal since January 2022. Port Inland on the Siagne canal adds what the commune calls Europe's first dry-stack port — 800 places for motorboats to 36 ft (11 m) — and the Vieux Port lists boatyard services on site via IGY.
Which Cannes restaurants can I reach by boat?
La Guérite on Île Sainte-Marguerite is the verified answer: its own site states shuttle-boat access departing from the Capitainerie of Port Canto (from Mouré Rouge during the Film Festival), and the ZMEL buoys sit in the same anse. La Tonnelle on Saint-Honorat is reached by the operator's daily shuttles — though its status carried a sourced closure notice in August 2026, so call first. The Croisette's beach tables publish no boat access; berth in either port and walk.