PROGRAMME | Nice Boating Tomorrow

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Screening of the film “Rorqual” – WWF
Rorqual, written and directed by Hugo Hebbe and narrated by Gérard Darmon, in partnership with 20 Minutes and Ushuaïa TV, will take visitors to the heart of the Mediterranean to uncover one of the sea’s greatest mysteries: the fin whale.
The film is the result of 20 years of in-depth research conducted by WWF in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, in order to effectively protect these giants of the sea from collisions, pollution, and other devastating human activities, we must first learn about them.

2pm – 3pm
Focus on sorting
Katy Gaubert from Regeneco will lead an interactive session open to all, explaining why it is important to recycle bio-waste on land rather than dumping it at sea.
Through a dynamic quiz, discussions, and concrete examples, participants will learn the correct sorting habits for both land and sea, and will leave with simple solutions that they can implement in their daily lives.

The goal is to ensure that every action contributes to preserving the ocean and all living things.

2:45pm
Official opening of the exhibition
in the presence of Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice

3pm – 4pm
Screening of the film “Expédition 7ème Continent”
Screening followed by a debate with Patrick Deixonne, founder of the Expedition 7th Continent NGO

Expedition 7th Continent is a film inspired by the Expedition 7th Continent association’s project, which highlights plastic pollution in the oceans. The film follows a team of scientists and explorers who set out to study the vast quantities of plastic waste often referred to as the ‘7th Continent’.
The film documents the expedition and the samples collected, aiming to raise public awareness of the impact of plastics on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

To combat the proliferation of waste at sea more effectively, Expedition 7th Continent organises educational workshops to raise awareness of waste pollution and its consequences among schoolchildren, the public, and local, industrial and political stakeholders, and highlights actions to be taken.

5.30pm – 6pm
Eco-friendly sailing – Rachel Moreau
Rachel Moreau will share the essential rules and best practices for more eco-friendly and ocean-friendly sailing.

10am – 11am
Nice Côte d’Azur : a hub of opportunities for yachting and the blue economy
Team Nice Côte d’Azur

11am – 12pm
Race return – Mathis Bourgnon, winner of the 2025 Mini Transat
Exactly 30 years after his father, Yvan, won the race in 1995, Mathis Bourgnon completed the solo, unassisted Mini Transat 2025 race on a 6.50-metre prototype. His outstanding performance aboard the ‘934 Assomast’ continues the Bourgnon family’s legacy in ocean sailing. Following his impressive victory, Mathis then embarked on a return transatlantic crossing. Setting sail from Saint-François in Guadeloupe, he is now en route to Brittany. While the outward journey was marked by the Mini Transat, the winter return trip is anything but a standard route.

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Screening of the film “Rorqual” – WWF
Rorqual, written and directed by Hugo Hebbe and narrated by Gérard Darmon, in partnership with 20 Minutes and Ushuaïa TV, will take visitors to the heart of the Mediterranean to discover one of the sea’s greatest mysteries: the fin whale.
The film is the result of 20 years of in-depth research conducted by WWF in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, in order to effectively protect these giants of the sea from collisions, pollution, and other devastating human activities, we must first learn about them.

2pm – 3pm
Electric propulsion and energy management on board
With Sigrid Longeau (CSR Manager at Fountaine Pajot), Yannig Troël (Flagship Manager and ODSea+ Development Manager at Fountaine Pajot), and Jérémy Bénichou (Sales Director at Joool)

4pm – 5pm
Preserving Posidonia in the Mediterranean: a challenge for pleasure boating – Awareness, Key Players and Solutions
A conference hosted by the Fountaine-Pajot Group, featuring Sigrid Longeau (CSR Manager at Fountaine-Pajot), Jamila Poydenot (Deputy Director at CPIE des Îles de Lérins and Secretary General at Alliance Posidonia), Catherine Piante (Posidonia Programme Manager at WWF France) and Thomas Doret (France and Benelux Manager at Marine OEM Business).

As we know, Posidonia is a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, not an alga. It plays a major ecological role in protecting the coastline, providing a reservoir of biodiversity, capturing CO₂ through photosynthesis and improving water quality. However, it is fragile! It is under threat from boat anchoring, pollution, coastal urbanisation and global warming. We must therefore take action collectively!

4pm – 4:30pm
AFBE awards ceremony – Exhibition Hall

5pm – 6pm
Screening of the film “Rorqual” – WWF
Rorqual, written and directed by Hugo Hebbe and narrated by Gérard Darmon, in partnership with 20 Minutes and Ushuaïa TV, will take visitors to the heart of the Mediterranean to discover one of the sea’s greatest mysteries: the fin whale.
The film is the result of 20 years of in-depth research conducted by WWF in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, in order to effectively protect these giants of the sea from collisions, pollution, and other devastating human activities, we must first learn about them.

10am – 11am
“Panache, or the art of navigating between failures and innovations” – Book presentation
Bateaux pour la Planète

11am – 12pm
Educational observation of plankton
Villefranche Sea Institute

The IMEV scientific mediation team will be available to answer questions about the ocean and related scientific and environmental topics. Two activities will be offered during the weekend:

• Marine Protected Area Activity: Group discussion on the effects of a Marine Protected Area on biodiversity.
• Plankton observation activity: Using binocular magnifying glasses and microscopes, observe a sample of seawater rich in phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Highlights will be shown on the big screen every day at the exhibition.

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Screening of the film Rorqual – WWF
Rorqual, written and directed by Hugo Hebbe and narrated by Gérard Darmon, in partnership with 20 Minutes and Ushuaïa TV, will take visitors to the heart of the Mediterranean to discover one of the ocean’s greatest mysteries: the fin whale.
Rorqual is the result of 20 years of in-depth research conducted by WWF in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, in order to effectively protect these giants of the sea from collisions, pollution, and other devastating human activities, we must first learn about them.

2pm – 3pm
How can we encourage the general public to protect the environment through product and service design?
Besign School

Besign School, located in Nice, is much more than a design school; it is a true laboratory of innovation where creativity and commitment come together to imagine a desirable future.

“Objective Ocean by BESIGN: The Sustainable Design School” (a 2025–26 semester project in partnership): ‘How can product and service design help the general public protect the ocean?’, presented on Saturday, 21 March at 2 pm.

3pm – 4pm
Electric propulsion and energy management on board
With Sigrid Longeau (CSR Manager at Fountaine Pajot), Yannig Troël (Flagship Manager and ODSea+ Development Manager at Fountaine Pajot), and Jérémy Bénichou (Sales Director at Joool)

4pm – 4:30pm
Catamaran Escargot – Testimonial: Retrofitting a Motor Catamaran into an Electric and Solar-Powered Boat
The story of Catamaran Escargot began in 2005 with a Dean Catamarans Jag 530.
After sinking in the port of Andratx in March 2017, the insurance company declared it a ‘wreck’.
After more than two years of repairs and modernisation, it will begin sailing again in the Mediterranean Sea at the end of 2023, with solar electric propulsion enabling it to be energy self-sufficient.

During this presentation, Jérôme will talk about the project to retrofit a 16 m motor catamaran, the importance of redundancy in propulsion components and sailing with solar energy.

5pm – 6pm
How to cross the Atlantic safely in a flotilla?
Presentation of the Rallye des Iles du Soleil

Organised by Grand Pavois Organisation (GPO), the Rallye des Iles du Soleil is a safe, supervised Atlantic sailboat race open to monohulls and multihulls over 10 metres in length. Departure is scheduled for October. The programme consists of two stages, with the first leg covering 970 miles between La Palma and Mindelo, followed by a second leg covering 2,130 miles between Mindelo and Marie-Galante in Guadeloupe.

A presentation will be given at the show where all yachtsmen and enthusiasts are invited to discover this opportunity to cross the Atlantic in a flotilla safely and in a friendly atmosphere. This ensures that resources and marine animals are preserved, and that as little fossil fuel as possible is consumed during the transatlantic sailing trip.

11:30am – 12:30pm
Sustainable sailing and Posidonia preservation in the Mediterranean – Jamila Poydenot, CPIE Iles du Lérins et Pays d’Azur

12.30pm – 1.30pm
Screening of the film “Rorqual” – WWF
Rorqual, written and directed by Hugo Hebbe and narrated by Gérard Darmon, in partnership with 20 Minutes and Ushuaïa TV, will take visitors to the heart of the Mediterranean to discover one of the sea’s greatest mysteries: the fin whale.
The film is the result of 20 years of in-depth research conducted by WWF in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, in order to effectively protect these giants of the sea from collisions, pollution, and other devastating human activities, we must first learn about them.

2pm – 3pm
Educational observation of plankton
Villefranche Sea Institute

The IMEV’s scientific mediation team will be on hand to discuss the ocean and all the related scientific and environmental issues. Two activities will be offered during the weekend:

• Marine protected area activity: group discussion on the effects of a marine protected area on biodiversity.
• Plankton observation activity: Using binocular magnifying glasses and microscopes, observe a sample of seawater rich in phytoplankton and zooplankton.

3 pm – 3.30 pm
Catamaran Escargot – Testimonial: Retrofitting a motor catamaran to make it electric and solar-powered
The Catamaran Escargot’s story began in 2005 when it was a Dean Catamarans Jag 530.
After sinking in the port of Andratx in March 2017, the insurance company declared it a ‘wreck’.
After more than two years of repairs and modernisation, it will begin sailing again in the Mediterranean Sea at the end of 2023, with solar electric propulsion enabling it to be energy self-sufficient.

During this presentation, Jérôme will talk about the project to retrofit a 16-metre motor catamaran, the importance of redundancy in the various propulsion components and the specifics of sailing using solar energy.

5 pm – 6 pm:
Screening of the film “Rorqual” – WWF
Rorqual, written and directed by Hugo Hebbe and narrated by Gérard Darmon, in partnership with 20 Minutes and Ushuaïa TV, will take visitors to the heart of the Mediterranean to discover one of the sea’s greatest mysteries: the fin whale.
The film is the result of 20 years of in-depth research conducted by WWF in the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, in order to effectively protect these giants of the sea from collisions, pollution, and other devastating human activities, we must first learn about them.

Je roule en électrique
At their stand

• A light-hearted quiz on electric mobility, presented by Yoann Le Blévennec from Green Stand-Up, combining environmental awareness with stand-up comedy for a fun learning experience.
• Remote-controlled car workshop: a fun activity to understand how electric vehicles are charged
• Children’s area: draw your dream vehicle
• Competition: try your luck at winning an electric scooter

Institut de la mer de Villefranche
At their stand

• Marine protected area activity: work as a team to consider the effects of a marine protected area on biodiversity.
• Plankton observation activity: using binocular loupes and microscopes, observe a sample of seawater rich in phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Besign School
At their stand

• Participatory awareness-raising workshops as part of the My Reefs Project: Create three-dimensional ceramic marine figurines representing elements of marine flora and fauna, to be installed in underwater farms with a view to developing and protecting marine biodiversity (short workshops lasting 30 to 45 minutes).

Exhibition Hall

• “Objective Ocean By BESIGN” exhibition: This exhibition presents nine product design projects and scenarios aimed at raising public awareness of ocean conservation. The exhibition also highlights the commitment of students at Besign The Sustainable Design School to protecting the ocean.