Launched in 2023 by the Spanish shipyard Freire, the 112-meter (367-foot) superyacht Renaissance is a sailing masterpiece. It is not only the largest yacht built in Spain but also the most expensive charter in the world, asking no less than €3 million per week (around $3.3 million) in low season. However, the jaw-dropping charter price is more than justified by the luxury vessel’s long list of amenities and features, which includes industry-first innovations. One such novelty is the superyacht’s bespoke tracking system created to ensure guests are well looked after by the crew while maintaining complete privacy.
The vessel is believed to be owned by American billionaire Gary Klesch, a very experienced charterer. Apparently, Klesch always struggled with finding crew members while moving around a yacht, especially while looking for a drink or fresh towels after boarding the vessel. While commissioning his dream superyacht, he wanted this particular problem to be addressed. Klesch was looking for a solution that didn’t rely on cameras or the staff constantly checking in on the guests.
UK-based consulting firm Smart Technology Advisors was brought in to create a new piece of technology to solve this problem. It’s the same company that helped American billionaire Dan Snyder get the world’s first superyacht with an IMAX theater as well as work on the $330 million superyacht H3 to install 45-foot-long floor-to-ceiling interactive video walls.
The Smart team partnered with Renaissance’s AVIT integrators, Videoworks, to design a waterproof and sun-resistant wearable tracking device. The Bluetooth-enabled wristband allows the wearer to request attendance from a member of the yacht’s service team with the simple press of a button.
Dubbed myTracking, the wearable gadget uses geolocation via Bluetooth to notify the service team of the guest’s exact location on the vessel and other details. “Regardless of the wristband wearer’s location, the service team will be able to find them using an extensive location tracking infrastructure that has been built into the yacht by design,” Gurmeet Singh (Technology consultant and project lead) told SuperYacht Times. The bracelet also adds to the privacy of the guests as the service team does not always need to be in close proximity to receive service requests.
However, the team that worked on the tracking bracelet quickly found more applications of the technology. Parents can use the wristband to monitor the location of their children on the vessel using a guest iPad. Furthermore, it can also be used by guests to unlock doors to their cabin without carrying additional fobs or cards.
Since the tracking device uses Bluetooth, a technology with low energy consumption compared to Wi-Fi, the battery can last for years without the need for recharging or changing.
Renaissance, a $200 million floating marvel
With an overall length of 367 feet, Renaissance is one of the largest projects designed by the British studio Bannenberg & Rowell. Despite her massive size, the luxury vessel features a streamlined and elegant profile.
Designed for the charter market as well as for owner use, the superyacht boasts decadent interiors and mind-blowing amenities. Spanning six decks, the vessel offers a myriad of dining, relaxation, and entertainment options.
Designed as a multi-generational vessel, Renaissance gets a double-height dining saloon, an expansive beach club stocked with the latest water toys, a 19-person indoor cinema along with a secondary outdoor theater, and an entire deck dedicated to wellness, which includes a fitness center, hot and cold plunge pools, a steam room and sauna, treatment rooms and hair and beauty salons.
The superyacht can accommodate up to 36 guests in 19 luxurious cabins and requires a crew of 44 to operate. Powered by robust Caterpillar engines, Renaissance can hit a top speed of 16 knots. She boasts an impressive range of over 3,000 nautical miles while cruising at a speed of 12 knots.
Who is Gary Klesch?
Gary Klesch is an American-born financier and businessman known for his investments in distressed assets and his work as a turnaround specialist. The 77-year-old is the founder of the Klesch Group, a private investment firm that focuses on acquiring and restructuring struggling companies, particularly in sectors such as chemicals, metals, oil refining, and other heavy industries. He started his career as a margin clerk at Paine Webber in Cleveland, earning a modest $10,000 annually. He rapidly climbed the success ladder, becoming a partner at McDonald & Company at 24, one of the largest regional investment banking firms in the United States at the time. His present net worth is estimated to be around $1 billion.
