Prestige comes from Jeanneau, under whose umbrella it has been successfully produced and traded as its own brand for around 20 years. And with the urge to go bigger, they have now arrived in the 70-foot class, as the Prestige 750 proves. Of course, Jeanneau, one of the largest mass producers of sailing and motor boats in France, wants to continue its success.
Viewed from the outside, the 750 is an imposing appearance, ending above the waterline at just under eight metres in height and measuring five and a half metres in width. At almost 23 metres in length, four cabins with double berths plus three WC/shower rooms for owners and guests are accommodated below deck. And in the stern, a cabin with WC and shower is used by two crew members.
Viewed from the side, the window front catches the eye, giving the boat a challenging appearance, which is supported by the flybridge on stainless steel posts, which is pulled aft. The icing on the cake is the fixed bimini with sliding roof. And if you step on board via the gangway aft, you step over a sweeping and lowerable bathing platform.
The cockpit is dominated by the bench seat, table and stairs to the fly. When the three sliding glass doors to the saloon are open, the view sweeps through the entire boat and is not obstructed by the window fronts. You are "welcomed" by a galley bar unit on the port side and the dinette with glass table opposite. One step higher is the couch area, where comfortable seating units on both sides invite you to linger. The control station is hidden almost inconspicuously in front of the double bench seat for driver and co-driver on the port side and is dominated by screens on which everything to do with engines, boat and navigation can be displayed.
In this class, the living area is usually located next to the driving position. The Prestige 750 is no different. The only difference is that instead of going down the stairs to the right, you turn left and enter a mezzanine in the bow area, where the shipyard has accommodated an impressive owner's cabin with a large bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.
The guest area is located completely below. Where comparable boats have the owner's cabin under the saloon floor, here the "important people" (VIPs) sleep in the VIP cabin, which extends across the entire width of the boat and has its own bathroom.
Two guest cabins are installed in the bow area, below the owner's cabin; the day bathroom with WC on the port side has separate access to the guest cabin on the same side. The shipyard has skilfully nested everything so that the headroom in each cabin fits. At Prestige, this is called the "Wide Body Concept" and means that the entire width of the boat is utilised. The route to the engine compartment leads via the bathing platform into a technical vestibule, from which the crew cabin is also accessible.
The engine compartment (as well as the vestibule) can be accessed through a watertight door. It is easy to stand there, and the room contains almost all the technical equipment needed in the boat. You can easily reach everything, such as the gyro stabiliser, which prevents the boat from rolling when it is at anchor. On the flybridge aft, a large open area offers space for lounging or for a dinghy. The seating area and galley bar are located in the centre, while the driving position and the seating area on the starboard side, which can be converted into a sun lounger, are located at the front. The amount of space is impressive.
We drive the Prestige 750 with the most powerful engine, two V8s from MAN, each with 1200 hp and shaft drive. In the harbour, one drive train at the lowest speeds (600 rpm) is sufficient for a speed of 2 knots. If you switch on the second engine, the speed increases to 5 knots. We sail the slow passages (6 knots) at 800 rpm to keep the waves generated by the boat at an acceptable height. Without trimming too much, the Prestige 750 switches from displacement to planing speed. Visibility is unobstructed at both helm stations, both ahead and when cornering. At full throttle we measure just under 27 knots, and the most economical planing or cruising speed is 20 knots when the engines are turning 1900 rpm.
At slow speeds, one tank of fuel is sufficient for a theoretical range of just under 1100 nm plus 15% reserve. At cruising speed, you should look for a bunker station after about 300 nm and at full throttle after about 230 nm if you want to keep the reserve. This means that the Prestige 750 fulfils our requirement of at least 270 nm radius of action plus reserve.
A full circle measures just under four boat lengths at slow speed and just over five at cruising speed. If you want to be even more manoeuvrable, you can use the joystick at the lowest speeds, which moves the boat where you want it to go with the help of the bow and stern thrusters plus both drive lines.
A calm Mediterranean does not challenge the test boat and therefore leaves the "rough water" chapter without an entry, as there were hardly any waves. Under "Extreme manoeuvres" it is noted that in tight bends taken at full throttle, the 750 first leans slightly towards the centre and then, surprisingly, stands up again. On the slalom course, the Prestige oscillates slightly on its longitudinal axis, but when the rudder is turned, it follows the course taken directly and without complaint. The boat is safe in all respects. However, the shipyard would like to improve the safety of movement of one or two of the handrails.
The basic equipment of the Prestige 750 is adequate, but it can still be "spiced up" with the help of the accessories list. In terms of workmanship, the test boat shows no significant weaknesses.
Conclusion
The space concept is a success, and with the 750, Prestige proves that you can create the kind of space you would only expect in even larger boats. Plus good workmanship and safe handling characteristics - what more could you want?
