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In this series, Nicky shares her valuable insight and experiences about Boating, Yachting,the Boating Lifestyle and working in the Boating Industry. With a personal goal to engage more people in the industry and see more women behind the helm, in her intro you’ll get to know and love the Boat Princess as we do. She interviews interesting and entertaining guests from all aspects of the boating industry from superyachts to marinas, from entrepreneurs to CEO’s, all with fascinating stories, plus some incredible high achieving women in boating like Kay Cottee the first woman to perform a single handed, non-stop and unassisted circulation of the world and Lisa Blair the record holder for Antarctica’s circumnavigation.
We are excited to welcome Nicky Vaux to the Podcast world. Introducing Nicky might take a while to scan through her many achievements, accolades and acknowledgements.
You can follow Nicky and live vicariously through her instagram
@theboatprincess or see her website www.theboatprincess.com for details on how to collaborate your brand with her, be interviewed on the podcast, have her video or review a boat for you or join her at one of her amazing events.
Nicky is a Partner of Empire Marinas Group, owners of Empire Marina Bobbin Head, Sydney’s most awarded marina and Empire Marina Lake Macquarie, Lake Macquarie’s largest marina.
She is a multiple boat owner, Partner in 3 Freedom boat clubs, former board member of the MIA and believes the more people we have out on the water boating the happier the world will be. She loves connecting people that can help each other in business or enhance their lifestyle with the right brands and holding events to bring people together in a safe and positive environment to help each other rise. Her love is educating others on all things boating and boats, and helping others into the industry and lifestyle she loves. A rising tide lifts all boats.
Episodes
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 16, 2026
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.
Because here’s what happens: you spot her at Vieux Port, you make eye contact, you wave… and by the time you’ve said “Bonjour,” she’s already halfway to Port Canto, apparently teleporting between meetings, pontoons, and VIP drop-ins like she’s running the Monaco Grand Prix — but in flats, with a radio, and 700 boats waiting for her decision.
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).
She has described having grown up in Le Havre, with the sea “part of her DNA,” and says she has spent almost her entire career connected to the maritime/yachting world.
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.
2025 is a symbolic “handover” year: Sylvie’s final edition as director before passing leadership to Constance Brément.
A few facts about Cannes Yachting Festival
- The Cannes Yachting Festival was founded in 1977 and has grown into a flagship European boating event.
- It’s widely positioned as Europe’s largest in-water boat show, staged across two ports: Vieux Port and Port Canto.
- The show’s modern identity also reflects its increasing international focus; the official site highlights its scale and “world capital of yachting” feel during show week.
2025 show stats
From official festival information and 2025 reporting, the 2025 edition landed around:
- Nearly 56,000 visitors
- About 710–711 boats on display
- Roughly 677–680 exhibitors
- 147 world premieres (reported as a major jump year-on-year)
https://www.cannesyachtingfestival.com/en-gb.html
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