French boatbuilding led in the sailboat arena, but never succeeded in dominating the international powerboat arena. As the powerboat market grew predominant in Europe, Jeanneau felt a pressing need to have a breakthrough in this segment of the market. 

Nobody in the J&J yard thought this was possible—except Japec Jakopin. J&J designed a new powerboat range for Jeanneau with a new name, new design, and a larger yacht than ever before. The Prestige 41, first shown at the Paris boat show in 1989, was an instant international success, with forty-five boats delivered in its first production year. Most went to the South French coast, with clients from a variety of European countries—but the very first Prestige 41 was sold to Alain Delon, at that time the brightest star of the French cinema...

J&J came up with the concept and designed the naval architecture, including the deck and interior arrangement. The hull was extensively tested in their tank-testing facility in Zagreb, Croatia, as were most of J&J powerboat projects, with expert help from prof. Dr. Dzigas and engineer Gordana Semijalac. The exterior design and interior decoration were beautifully executed by Vittorio Garroni and Massimo Musio-Sale, a professor and his then-student from the University of Genoa. 

 Prestige 41 established a new power yacht range, and the Prestige name is still used today for the most important power yacht brand of the Beneteau Group, the largest boatbuilder in the world.