Meet the best baller in sailing

When the No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines defeated the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies 69-63 on April 6, 2026 to win the NCAA men’s basketball national championship, the outcome enshrined Ben Capuco as the 2026 Scuttleball Champion. Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck checks in with the best baller in sailing.

Tell us about your sailing – where, what, etc.
I grew up sailing on Long Island Sound, graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Naval Architecture, and have been sailing in Annapolis (MD) since 1986. I began campaigning a J/24, then after a few years off to focus on family, switched to the Etchells Class. Since that wasn’t much of a family boat, I moved on to ‘big boats” and I’m currently campaigning an Aerodyne 38 named Zuul. With a great crew of friends, we’ve had some good success.

What was your bracket technique?
The CBS sports app actually does a nice job of providing good stats right there as you are picking, but I always favor the Big 10. Even when they don’t have a prayer, my bracket always ends with Michigan. How could I have lived with myself if I had picked Duke?

Was it hard watching the Championship game?
I had my doctor clear me for viewing prior to the game.

How does it feel to be the best baller in Sailing?
I won the 2025 Annapolis Newport Race with hardly a mention, but I win Scuttleball and I’m getting more press than a Rolex champion. But … honestly a lot of the fun has been the shout-outs I’m getting from sailing friends and fellow Michigan sailing Alumni.

And what about that Michigan degree?
I am still using my degree … but upon graduation I realized I have a lot of bad habits … like eating, so designing navy ships instead of race boats was a better move. I’ve spent my career working for Gibbs & Cox, most recently as chief naval architect. I’m on the national advisory board for the NA department at U of M and headed back to Ann Arbor next week for a board meeting. I look forward to enjoying all the rights, honors, and privileges of a Scuttleball winner.

For complete Scuttleball standings, click here.

BACKGROUND
In 1988, the College Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament prompted a bunch of friends in Annapolis to initiate the Scuttleball pool. Creating March Madness brackets is a massive American tradition and Scuttleball would determine who was the best baller in sailing. Early records are foggy but here are the confirmed champions:

2026 – Ben Capuco
2025 – Matt Brock
2024 – Kathy Alven
2023 – Buttons Padin
2022 – David Krupka
2021 – Arthur Libby
2020 – Cancelled/Pandemic
2019 – Jim Lodico
2018 – Kris Matthews
2017 – Bruce Nairn
2016 – D Contraire
2015 – R Dub
2014 – Steve Pennington
2013 – Allan Terhune