A lifestyle gamble: "We bought a boat and don't even know how to sail!" That was the title for a video the Hitchcocks made. This photo was taken a few days after they saw their boat for the first time ...

The 42-foot Excess 13 slices through the water with asymmetrical hulls and a responsive, lightweight structure designed for bluewater cruising. Courtesy Excess Boat-show season is back with a boom.