On board the Seadeck 7, Paul Grange of Marine Italia, Azimut’s exclusive distributor in Singapore, explains why boating is less about destinations and more about spending time with the people who mean the most
Surrounded by sea and sky, it’s difficult to believe that I am less than 20 minutes from the city. Moments earlier, I had left behind the glass towers and constant motion of Singapore. Now, everything feels easy and languid. I turn to find, mere metres away, a family chatting and laughing as their vessel drifts across the water, basking in the retreating rays of the evening sun.
It helps that the yacht I’m on, Azimut’s Seadeck 7, is superb on the water. Combining a sleek silhouette with an advanced hybrid-electric propulsion system, the 71ft yacht glides across the Singapore strait. So smooth and quiet is the ride that, at times, I almost forget that it’s moving at all.
The flagship of Azimut’s new Seadeck series, the Seadeck 7 is built around its outdoor spaces. From the expansive aft deck to the beach area and upper entertaining deck, almost every part of the vessel encourages guests to gather, socialise, and spend time immersed in their surroundings.
It’s a good thing, then, that Paul Grange, co-founder and director of Marine Italia, the exclusive distributor of Azimut in Singapore, Hong Kong and several other Asian markets, is an excellent conversationalist. As he takes me on a tour of the vessel, Grange explains that the appeal of boating in Singapore is often misunderstood.
“People think boating is about going somewhere,” he says. “Actually, it’s about going to a place with a group of people you want to be with.”
It’s a sentiment that feels relevant in Singapore. Despite the abundance of nearby islands and destinations to explore, Grange believes the city is defined less by a lack of places to visit than by a lack of time. For many owners, the ideal outing isn’t a weekend cruise, but a few unhurried hours on the water with the people who matter most.
“It’s very common to have three generations on the boat for the afternoon,” says Grange. “Granddad can come, grandma can come. It’s not like you’re asking to take them to the other side of Malaysia.”
Family Values
If spending time together with family is a priority, the Seadeck 7 makes a compelling case for itself. Central to the yacht’s design is what Azimut calls the Fun Island, a reimagined stern area formed by fold-down terraces and a broad staircase leading directly into the water. Together, they transform the aft section of the yacht into a sea-level lounge where children can spend hours in the water while parents and grandparents relax just steps away.
Perhaps fittingly, Azimut remains a family affair. Founded in 1969 by Paolo Vitelli, the Italian shipyard remains one of the few major yacht builders that is still controlled by the family that founded it, with his daughter Giovanna now leading the company. For Grange, that continuity is important.
“The fact that this company is still driven and operated by the daughter of the founder means that she continues to make the same decisions for the same reasons,” he says. “We see it in the products and the designs. They don’t cut corners.”
Beyond design, craftsmanship and engineering, however, Grange repeatedly returns to the same subject: family.
“I have teenage kids and it quickly gets very hard to keep them interested in you,” he says with a laugh. “There are two ways to get your kids to hang out with you: go skiing or go boating. Tell them to bring a couple of friends and they don’t even realise what you’re doing. They’re having a great time and you’re just enjoying having them there.”
This story first appeared in the July 2026 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here
