MOONDANCE Yacht Charter Monohull

Crew Profile

Captain Judd Dunham grew up on a very social lake in Minnesota where water sports and boating rules the day, and night. He began waterskiing at the age of four and pursued that sport for the next 20 years with all of his heart, eventually ranking in the top 10 in the USA for several years in his age group. After coaching and competing, he began sailing for fun and fell in love with the freedom and discipline it provides. At the age of 30 he sold his lakefront home and all of his possessions and drove his vehicle to Costa Rica, where he found his first cruising catamaran. He put all the money he had into it and taught himself to be a charter Captain.
Originality was his watchword, and it continues to be his primary desire 15 years later. He specializes in custom charters for like minded people, surfers, adventurers, and those who like to immerse themselves in the sea. Captain Judd is always gunning to help create a trip that is unforgettable from start to finish. Watching guests have special and sometimes breakthrough moments is one of the best parts of what he does. Judd considers himself a sailor, and few things make the skipper happier than hearing wind in his sails, laughter on the decks, and seeing glowing smiles as he navigates our beautiful planet. He truly loves being a catalyst for adventure and the fuel for your fun!
Judd met Natasha in Costa Rica where he says he admired her from afar for her unequaled talent and innate ability to read guests and conditions. He recruited her and they clicked while sailing and entertaining guests; some of whom have continued to follow them on their journeys, and have become not just friends but a part of their family.
Natasha earned her degree from University of California, Riverside, studying Film and Media Culture, and Philosophy. Eager to travel with a camera in hand, she began backpacking through Asia. She settled in Thailand where she discovered her passion for biology, wildlife behavior, and SCUBA diving; turning professional in the latter.
Upon returning to California she obtained her PADI SCUBA Instructor and CPR/Emergency First Responder Instructor rating and trained divers under the harsh conditions of the Pacific coastline. Missing tropical climates, she moved and taught throughout the Caribbean and Central America, eventually settling in Costa Rica. Here she trained disabled divers through the ‘Sin Limites’ (without limits) program, and became a certified ‘SNUBA’ guide. She also upgraded her SCUBA license to PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. As an avid free diver and spear fisher, catching fish and lobster and cooking them for her friends quickly became her favorite hobby. While in Costa Rica she also met Judd, who taught her to sail. With the upmost confidence in his skill as a captain she began chartering with him. Sailing with Judd fit her personality perfectly, which has always favored hands-on outdoor work, and time on the sea.
Afterward she moved to Mexico where she worked as a bull shark dive guide and fell in love with cave diving. She then moved back to the Caribbean where she earned her RYA Power Boat license, completed her crossover to additionally become an SSI SCUBA Instructor, and her STCW 10.
She is eager to have guests feel like a part of her adventurous lifestyle by making delicious fresh foods which infuse the flavors she has come to love from her travels and her Latin background.
Her and Judd’s goal is to give guests the vacation of a lifetime by giving them a week of feeling the wind in their hair with real sailing, great food and drinks, and plenty of guided and non guided time on secluded beaches and coral reefs. They want to send guests home with beautiful photos and videos of their trip, fun and happy memories, and a better understanding of the wildlife they encounter and the importance of protecting it. They are continuously pushing to be better, and aim to exceed your expectations while you are onboard their vessel. Giving you their best is their promise.