Scuttleball: Where sailors go to ball

It was in 1988 when a college hoops pool between a bunch of friends in Annapolis first got traction, but has since morphed into a nation-wide marine industry brag-fest based on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

In the absence of any real athletic skill, and with winter lingering, this three week distraction annually gives those within the sailing profession an opportunity to demonstrate some versatility beyond their knack at keeping boats afloat.

Aptly named Scuttleball, the pool this year is being unleashed to allow the sailing public to compete against its heroes and do some good for society. Managed by a new consortium, the goal will be to continue the rich and storied history with proceeds benefiting a worthy cause.

All the funds raised via the 2018 tournament pool will go towards helping Jim Hahn from Ronstan. Jim was doing what he loved, skiing in Vermont, when he had a catastrophic accident that has left him paralyzed from the waist down.

For those of you who do not know Jim, you will as the tournament goes on. For those of you who do know him, send in some tales to share and let’s crank this up to a new level and make a difference!

For the veterans of the pool, winning Scuttleball still gets you all the fame and notoriety of the glory years of old. If you finish last you will get chastised for a full year, and new this year… if you win… you will get your name carved on an all new trophy… and last but not least… there’s over $4000 in prizes up for grabs from Harken, Lewmar, Spinlock, and of course, Ronstan.

Selection Sunday takes place on March 11, which is when we learn which 68 teams have made the field for the tournament. Your job is simply to choose which team will dominate the dance.

It’s Game Time! Here is how to play
First, you need to submit your picks on the CBS Sports site no later than 10:00 EDT, Thursday March 15th. The CBS Scuttleball pool link is… click here. You do not need to know ANYTHING about basketball to play (and some say it’s even better to just guess anyhow).

Second, your entry fee ($20 per set of picks – limit 10 per person) must be submitted separately, but no later than Thursday, March 22. If you miss the deadline you will be removed from the pool. NO EXCEPTIONS.

It’s easiest for all if you pay with Paypal via this link… click here. There is an extra $2 tacked on for using PayPal to cover their fee’s. If you prefer to pay by check please mail it to:

Social Navigator
Atlantic Marketing
PO Box 293
Stonington, CT 06378

Please share this pool with your friends to see who is the best baller in sailing. Remember 100% of the proceeds this year will go to helping out our friend Jim Hahn!

Technical details for the geeks:

Scoring:
First Round: Each correct pick is worth 10 points. The seed of the winning team is added to the correct pick total.
Second Round: Each correct pick is worth 20 points. There is no bonus applied.
Sweet 16: Each correct pick is worth 40 points. There is no bonus applied.
Elite 8: Each correct pick is worth 80 points. There is no bonus applied.
Final Four: Each correct pick is worth 120 points. There is no bonus applied.
Championship: Each correct pick is worth 160 points. There is no bonus applied.
Tiebreaker: The total score of the Championship game.