Fifteen years ago, the Cannes Yachting Festival was a small, regional boat show in a city most widely known for hosting glamorous film festivals. Today, Cannes is the official kick-off of the international boating season and draws 50,000 yacht lovers from five continents. Flanked by the stunning waters of the Côte d’Azur and the city’s postcard-perfect waterfront, this year’s event showcased 570 yachts—including 166 new launches—lining Vieux Port.

The docks were buzzing with visitors, and many exhibitors excitedly claimed this was the best show they have seen in years…