It is the story of the reconversion of two high-level sportsmen, who left the regatta and kept the sea. Tony Philp, 51, was 13 times world champion in windsurfing.
Marc Audineau, 49, was world number 1 in the 49er Olympic dinghy.
The first is an iconoclastic entrepreneur with triple nationality, French, Australian, Fijian, born of a father who built a boat.
The second, specialized in communication and events, left Paris to find in Cannes a quality of life in his native region.
And that's where Marc and Tony launched their extravagant project: a nomadic island.
“
In thirty years, with the rising waters, there may no longer be a beach in Cannes.
Then there will be artificial islands;
this is the first.
"
This floating paradise has a name: Canua Island.
It will be a beach club, which promises the chic of Club 55 during the day and the atmosphere of the Hotel Costes in the evening, with a restaurant, a 360 ° lounge bar on the rooftop, two swimming pools, fresh water and sea water, surrounded by deckchairs and daybeds, and a shop.
But also a 40 m² suite stamped with the logo of the associated group, Maison Albar Hotels.
We would like more rooms.
Maybe later.
The design of the place bears the stamp of the French decorator and fashion designer Alexandra Poenaru, distinguished for having notably reinvented the interior of the 5-star villas of the Turtle Island Resort in Fiji and imagined the award-winning uniforms of the hostesses and stewards of Fiji Airways.
An elusive island that doesn't exist on any map
Located in the Gulf of Napoule, protected from the mistral by the Estérel massif, the Lérins islands and the Cap d'Antibes, this island is classified as a passenger ship (up to 400 people), which can sail at 5 knots.
It will only accommodate at anchor.
But being able to travel to meet privatization requests is what sets it apart from its model, Tony's Cloud 9 in Fiji.
“
Tony is a Cloudbreak surfer, and as he waited for the wave forty minutes from the edge, he exclaimed, 'I'd have a drink!'
So rather than the house on the water that he wanted to build, he made a bar surrounded by water, the Cloud 9, equivalent in French of seventh heaven,
”says Marc.
Canua is a hybrid place that has no equivalent in the world with all its components
The 40 m² suite stamped with the logo of the associated group, Maison Albar Hotels.
SDP
In 2013, the inventor sold his shares, with the idea of declining his concept in Dubai.
Marc convinced him to develop it in France, in a larger and motorized version.
“
I made a drawing and showed it to him.
Canua is a hybrid place, combining beach and boat cultures for upscale clients;
there is no comparable product in the world with all its components.
»But it will also be a platform to raise awareness of the protection of the seabed through educational actions with the Mediterranean 2000 association. The first guests are expected in spring 2021. On the menu, the dish will be offered from € 28 .
The "
island
"
day
, from € 60 with deckchair and service included.
Highlight of the experience: the suite with private terrace.
From € 590 per night for two, with private shuttle transfers from the shore reception area, a welcome cocktail, an iPad with access to VOD / Wi-Fi in the suite, a daybed and the little ones lunches.
Information:
Canua-island.com
Read also: The cocoon in the middle of nature of Sybille de Margerie
