VEYA Yachts is bringing the VEYA 53 to the Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 for the inaugural model's world debut, placing the new French power-catamaran brand on the water at one of Europe's principal yacht shows. The 16.50-metre yacht is the first product of a collaboration between Fountaine Pajot and Couach, combining experience in production catamarans with the engineering and construction capabilities of the Couach shipyard.
The brand itself was introduced before the finished yacht, with the VEYA 53 concept forming the first public expression of the joint venture. Cannes therefore marks a different milestone: the international debut of the completed first model and the point at which VEYA moves from concept and construction programme into a physical yacht that owners can experience.
A 16.5-metre catamaran with nearly eight metres of beam
VEYA publishes an overall length of 16.50 metres and a waterline length of 15.50 metres, with an overall beam of 7.96 metres and a draft of 1.10 metres. Light displacement is listed at 30,371 kilograms, rising to 39,390 kilograms fully loaded, giving the model the substantial volume expected from a cruising power catamaran of this size.
The platform is designed around practical access to the water as well as internal volume. An aft hydraulic bathing platform can be adjusted for swimming and boarding, while a large transom storage area is intended to carry equipment for activities such as paddleboarding and diving without consuming the principal guest spaces.
Multiple social areas across three levels
Forward, the yacht uses a large foredeck saloon to create a second major outdoor social area away from the cockpit. At the stern, VEYA offers two aft-cockpit configurations, allowing owners to choose between a more open connection to the sea or an arrangement incorporating a rear bench seat.
Above, the flybridge adds another dining, lounging and helm area with uninterrupted views around the yacht. Inside, the main saloon and galley are organised around the catamaran's full beam, while the accommodation can be configured in either three-cabin or four-cabin form depending on how owners balance private space and guest capacity.
Twin Yanmar diesel propulsion
The standard propulsion package uses two Yanmar 6LY 440 diesel engines producing 440 horsepower each. VEYA also lists an upgraded installation with twin Yanmar 6LF 550 engines at 550 horsepower each, giving owners a choice between two factory propulsion levels without changing the fundamental cruising layout.
Standard fuel capacity is 2,000 litres across two tanks, with an optional additional 800 litres available through two further tanks. Fresh-water capacity is 700 litres, while the yacht is classified for Category A operation with a published capacity of 11 people.
Built through the Fountaine Pajot and Couach partnership
VEYA was established through the collaboration of Fountaine Pajot and Couach, bringing together two French marine businesses with different areas of expertise. Fountaine Pajot contributes decades of catamaran development and international distribution experience, while Couach provides the shipyard, engineering resources and production capability behind construction of the VEYA 53.
Production takes place at Couach's facility in Gujan-Mestras on the Bassin d'Arcachon, where the shipyard carries out the stages from yacht construction through delivery. With the first model now arriving at Cannes, the VEYA 53 moves the partnership into its operational phase and gives the new brand its first complete yacht on the international stage.