In brief
- Gilbert, 76, is the iconic doyen of the Vieux-Port de Cannes.
- For his dedication, he was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite maritime.
- Every morning at 5 am, he takes to the sea alongside his son to perpetuate traditions.
The Vieux-Port de Cannes awakens this Friday, 18 September 2026, under the watchful eye of Gilbert, the 76-year-old doyen and iconic figure of the Vieux-Port de Cannes, who is preparing to set sail for his daily outing. Far from the bustle of the Croisette and the spotlights of the Palais des Festivals, he embodies the original soul of the Riviera city, one that smells of salt, wet wood and the tide. In this world-renowned port, where majestic yachts now rub shoulders with traditional boats, Gilbert remains the guardian of a temple of maritime traditions that time seems unwilling to alter.
The immutable ritual of the Cannes dawn
Every morning, while the city still sleeps and the first golden reflections of dawn only just caress the horizon, Gilbert is busy on the deck of his boat. Every morning at 5 am sharp, the engine starts up with a familiar murmur, the signal for departure to the open sea. This ritual, repeated thousands of times over an entire lifetime dedicated to the sea, brooks no exception, for to this lover of the Mediterranean, missing a fishing trip would be tantamount to giving up a part of himself.
Alongside him, his son’s silhouette emerges in the gloom, testifying to a silent but absolute complicity. Together, they pull away from the historic quay, gliding over water as black and smooth as a mirror, leaving behind the sleeping silhouettes of the great pleasure yachts to reach the secret fishing grounds that they are among the last to master.
A life dedicated to the Riviera horizon
The guardian of the soul and traditions of Cannes
To understand Gilbert’s importance within the Cannes community, one must observe the respect shown to him by his peers and the passers-by who cross his path. A true living memory of the Vieux-Port, he has seen the Côte d’Azur transform, yet has remained faithful to the gestures learned in his youth, perpetuating traditions anchored for generations at the heart of the port’s life. At 76, his robust silhouette and weather-beaten face tell of a life of effort, passion and respect in the face of the sometimes capricious elements of the deep blue sea.
The fishing nets, meticulously folded and inspected before each departure, are an extension of his own hands, symbols of a fishing craft that refuses to yield to the industrialisation of the seas. Every movement on the boat is measured, precise, dictated by an experience that only years can offer and which Gilbert continues to apply with the same rigour as in his early days.
The distinction of the Mérite maritime
The recognition of a lifetime of dedication at sea
This life of toil and commitment to safeguarding maritime heritage has not gone unnoticed. Gilbert was decorated with the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite maritime, an official recognition that crowns decades of dedication and transmission. This medal, highly symbolic for seafarers, honours not only the man but also the daily struggle to keep coastal and responsible fishing alive in the heart of the French Riviera.
This distinction also hails a major social role on the quays of Cannes, where Gilbert acts as an adviser, wise figure and collective memory for younger generations of sailors who are still finding their bearings in a sector undergoing rapid economic and environmental change.
The transmission of a family heritage
A complicity and expertise passed down from father to son
The heart of this daily adventure undoubtedly lies in intergenerational transmission. By working hand in hand with his son, Gilbert ensures that the family expertise, the secrets of the Cannes currents and the net-laying techniques will not die out with him. It is the intergenerational complicity that unites father and son in this maritime adventure, ensuring the sustainability of a typically Provençal way of life.
On deck, the roles are perfectly divided: the father brings the wisdom of experience and the intuitive reading of the winds, while the son deploys the energy needed to haul in the nets laden with the treasures of the Mediterranean. This teamwork, based on mutual trust and a shared love for the sea, offers the most beautiful of sights to those lucky enough to witness their return to port, when the sun is finally high in the sky and the fresh fish is landed on the quay.
