The Crew

We sail not to escape life,

but to keep life from escaping us.

Mark (AKA Capt'n Sparkles)

Mark grew up on Long Island in New York where his family owned a small 19 foot inboard/outboard. He spent most weekends fishing, crabbing, and admiring the majestic sailboats glide by. It was at that point that he caught the sailing bug. Unfortunately, his sailing dream took a 12 year haitus as he pursued a degree in Biochemistry from SUNY Geneseo, a medical degree from the University of Rochester, and residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia.

From there, Mark went to THE Ohio State University for fellowship training in Cardiovascular Medicine. Having reached the ripe old age of 31, he soon realized that he could easily spend the rest of his life training. If he did not start focusing on his dreams, they could soon pass out of his reach. This is why, in the sailing MECCA known as Columbus, OH, he purchased his first sailboat, Equuleus, a CL-16, for $2,000 with trailer. He needed a boat light enough to tow with his MINI Copper but rugged enough to handle the waters of lake Erie with its short period waves and sudden squalls. He has been sailing ever since. Mostly self taught, he still had a leg-up on his wife, who still had to learn how to swim, let alone sail.

After finishing training in critical care cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic he met back up with Ponnila in Rochester, NY. While in Cleveland he bought a Southern Cross 35 in Maryland and had it shipped up to Rochester, NY. The boat was perfect. She was ready to sail that first season, and at the same time needed a complete refit. Though the process of refitting, Mark would have to option to learn about all the boat's critical systems and rebuild them to his liking. She was renamed Equus Luna and had been plodding the waters of Lake Ontario since 2019. Mark and Ponnila have since took up residence on the Erie Canal and converted Equuleus into a canal boat.

Ponnila (AKA Pom Pom)

Ponnila grew up in the southern coast of Maine, 5 minutes from the University of New England. In spite of, what should have been an ideal maritime upbringing, she had only visited the ocean a handful of times and had never really learned how to swim (until recently)

After obtaining a degree in Biochemistry from Bowdoin College, she met Mark in medical school where they started as study mates, progressed to room mates, and ended up his first mate after they married in 2011. Ponnila, too, went to the University of Virginia for residency, completing 4 years of Obstetrics and Gynecology training. She works in Columbus, OH as an attending physician and then to the University of Rochester for fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine. She currently is a MFM attending at the University of Rochester and first Mate aboard Equus Luna

Ponnila started taking sailing lessons at Hoover Sailing Club and started learning the ropes aboard Equuleus.

Pinta

Pinta is a portuguese water dog, arguably the best boat dog you can have. She is 2 years old and has been sailing aboard Equus Luna ever since she was brought home at 8 weeks old. She is very protective of the boat and barks at anyone who approaches, but once she realizes your cool, she will cuddle away. She makes a very good heated blanket on cold days. She has a lot of FOMO, but tends to spend most of the day sleeping in the shade.