More Specifications
Flag:
BVI
Homeport:
British Virgin Islands
Yacht Permit:
1
Yacht License:
1
Yacht Mca:
1
Yacht Insurance:
ORM
Other Entertainment
Miele Coffee station
Professional espresso machine
Ceramic BBQ and smoker
Water Sports
Dinghy Size:
14' Highfield
Kayaks 1 Pax:
No
Kayaks 2 Pax:
No
Dinghy Hp:
50 HP
Floating Mats:
Yes
Dinghy Pax:
8
Swim Platform:
transom
Boarding Ladder:
Starboard aft
Sailing Dinghy:
No
Jet Skis:
No
Beach Games:
Yes
Wave Runners:
No
Kneeboard:
No
Windsurfer:
No
Snorkel Gear:
Yes
Scurfer:
No
Wake Board:
No
Paddleboard:
4
Seabob:
No
Sea Scooter:
No
Crew
Your Captain and Chef are native Texans who have been married since 2007. Avid travelers, Kristiann and Graham have lived on four continents and visited over fifty countries. Their experiences have taught them that great vacations are made up of many small details.
After 10 years in the corporate world, the Gips reached a point where they could focus on what they love to do most: travel, host guests, and sail. They purchased a 44’ catamaran, Allende, upon which they sailed over 30,000 nautical miles. After seven successful seasons, Graham and Kristiann were thrilled to upgrade their charter program aboard the luxurious Colibrí.
Dive instructor and stewardess Matilda Money-Kyrle is the newest addition to the crew. Matilda is an encouraging and enthusiastic individual who excels at inspiring guests to try new activities. Her years of working in the service industry and her experience on superyachts make her a valuable addition to the team.
Consummate hosts, Graham, Kristiann and Matilda find great pleasure in working as a team and creating lasting memories for their guests. All crew are CPR/First Aid certified and fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
Captain Graham Gips
Graham is an engineer by training who spent a successful career in the oil and gas industry. While working abroad, he learned to sail on a 20ft racing dinghy with Kristiann as crew. They raced weekly for several years, topped the local podium and earned the chance to compete internationally.
While he has a competitive streak, Graham is a detail-oriented and safety-conscious sailor who puts the comfort of his guests first. He knows the islands well and can craft an itinerary that suits everyone aboard. When the anchor is set each evening, Graham then turns his attention to crafting cocktails to your taste.
Chef Kristiann Gips
Before joining the yachting industry, Kristiann ran a successful catering company. She honed her culinary skills by accommodating a wide variety of preferences and dietary needs each day. In 2021, Kristiann further refined her skills by training at the acclaimed Ashburton Cookery School in England.
Kristiann loves to combine gourmet delicacies with local ingredients for new twists on classic dishes. She works with the Captain to plan a menu that perfectly complements the activities on your sailing itinerary. When she’s not in the galley, Kristiann enjoys escorting guests on snorkel safaris.
Stewardess / Dive Instructor Matilda Money-Kyrle
While earning her degree in Geography, Matilda worked as a water sports instructor in the UK taking guests paddle-boarding, kayaking and cliff jumping. Unwilling to give up a life on the water, Matilda then worked a Mediterranean season onboard a 50m yacht. She achieved her PADI instructor qualification in Thailand and loves sharing her knowledge of diving and marine life. Her knack for teaching will inspire confidence as you try new activities aboard!
Reviews
Christmas week 2023
o How would you describe your Captain and crew?
Epic hosts! They clearly love what they do (because it’s a lot of work!) but you end up feeling like you’re hanging out with friends (who are amazing cooks, cocktail makers and sailors).
o Tell us about your meals.
Every meal exceeded expectations. Beautifully prepared, delicious, well varied. The homemade breads were beyond compare.
o Now, do you remember what you liked best about this trip?
Everything. But the dive experience was incredibly special, the sailing was restorative and the time with friends and family was special every day.
o Thank you. Please tell us how did you find the pace and the itinerary of your vacation?
It was perfectly set to our needs. The crew customized each day as it came depending on our current desires. The only thing was that I needed a few more days because it was tooooo good.
Tabbert charter in April 2023
"Graham and Kristiann crafted our personalized trip-of-a-lifetime seamlessly. We simply let them know how we were feeling each day and they presented us with options to conjure the exact right experience, even if we didn’t know what we wanted! Adventure? Night-snorkel a reef with denizens of the deep, stalk bonefish on the flats of Anegada, or hike up the ridges of Norman Island to admire mountaintop vistas. Seclusion? Anchor in a deserted cove and claim a private beach as your own or while away an evening by a bonfire on a secluded island paradise. Feeling a bit more social? Peruse the most expansive collection of rum in the Caribbean on Cooper Island or visit the world-famous waterholes of Jost Van Dyke. All of the above? They catered to our pleasure, arranged it all on our behalf and oftentimes joined us to ensure we had the best possible experience.
Kristiann’s wizardry in the kitchen delighted us morning, noon, and night. From a nicoise salad made with freshly caught tuna to the local flavor of chicken roti, Kristiann uses fresh local ingredients that perfectly complement your surroundings. I’m not sure how she has time to do it all, but in addition to her multi-course meals, Kristiann also serves delectable homemade treats daily, including sweets, focaccia bread, and even pasta! Every one of our amazing meals was beautifully presented and paired perfectly with wine, candles, and starlight. Dinners aboard Colibri are experiences we’ll never forget.
The crew's attention to detail is pervasive. They immaculately maintain the vessel, both inside and out. Our cabins were always spotless, thanks to daily cabin service and turndown. They even offered onboard laundry service, which was an unexpected and much appreciated perk!
Graham and Kristiann's ability to predict our wants is truly unique. From a morning cappuccino with just the right amount of cinnamon to a house-made painkiller awaiting us following a guided snorkel, our every whim was met, whether we were aware of it or not."
Matt & Kelly
"Service onboard Colibri was fantastic and the boat was impeccably clean during our stay.
Our trip included activities options to cater to our collective preferences for each day. The crew was very flexible and made sure that even when our group decided to do different things we were all equally accommodated, including a tender service to different locations.
Food and drinks were exceptional. Kristiann is a highly trained and skilled chef offering diverse meals tailored to our preferences and prepared using fresh ingredients from local farms. Graham and Kristiann served a variety of amazing cocktails that we really enjoyed."
Dan & Carol
January 2023 BVI
Third charter in the history book! Every time is different--experiences & dining. The "Lamborghini" boat is off-the-charts amazing! Thank you for taking care of our every need and some we didn't even know we needed. Can't wait to come back next year...we will be counting the days.
-- Debbie & Alan
New Year 2022/23 BVI
“What a way to ring in the New Year! Thank you for a most wonderful family trip. We loved it all, from the sailing to the paddleboarding, tubing and snorkeling….and of course the food and drinks! It will be hard to top this…guess we will just have to keep coming back!”
— Katherine & Ryan Fowler
Christmas 2022
“I’m overcome with emotion reviewing the week we just experienced. You two make Colibrí a second home full of love, laughter and joy.
We had so many amazing meals and excursions. It’s hard to pick a top three because each day brought such a level of care and specialized experiences.
Thank you a million times for making this trip so perfect.”
— Holly & John
December 2022
“Thank you so much for such a wonderful, truly amazing vacation. We absolutely love sailing and exploring with you! We love Colibrí and are so happy for the two of you and your new opportunity. You both put your hearts into what you do and we can definitely tell by our experience.”
— Noël & Dustin
Reviews for Graham and Kristiann from their Former Yacht
You guys have gone above and beyond to ensure we had the trip of our lives. Your hospitality and attention to detail every second since we’ve been aboard is unsurpassable. From Kristiann’s amazing meals to the personally guided tours—you guys have taken care of us around the clock.”
— Kelly, Matt, Carol, Dan & Cat
Reviews for Graham and Kristiann from their Former Yacht
“Thank you all for the best vacation the Kay fam has ever had! We truly do not want to leave. Thank you for putting up with our millions of questions and showing us so many beautiful places. The snorkeling was the most amazing we’ve experienced. The dining experience onboard is second to none! Every meal was perfection—delicious and beautifully designed to our palates. We will miss these amazing meals. We hope we can come back for another fabulous week with y’all!”
— The Kay Family
Reviews for Graham and Kristiann from their Former Yacht
“To Graham—
We really appreciate your professionalism and eye for safety. You are an excellent Captain and allowed us to truly relax even with the young ones aboard. Thank you for sharing your home with us this week and your beautiful backyard and pool!
To Kristiann—
You are the real deal—cooking, scheduling and crewing. Watching you and Graham work together is inspirational. Thank you also for getting our family around the table. Good food, good conversation and no devices!”
— Kelly & Matt
Reviews for Graham and Kristiann from their Former Yacht
“We had a fantastic experience! My wife and I took our 2 children (13-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl) on a 9-day charter. Captain Graham and Chef/First Mate Kristiann welcomed us to their home. They were eager to assist with any and all water activities including snorkeling, paddle board, kayak, hammock, the floating unicorn, etc.
The food was amazing. Kristiann made almost everything from scratch and made it seem effortless. Each meal was expertly prepared with consideration for each individuals likes and dislikes. The presentation was artistic and the timing was impeccable. Each morning started with gourmet coffee.
We ended each evening with a discussion about the following days activities. Graham and Kristiann had options at every destination to meet our expectations. They could get us on the best mooring or anchorage in crowded locations or tuck us into a secluded cove if that is what we preferred for the day.
If it was possible to sail we were sailing. Graham and Kristiann love to sail. They had the spinnaker in the air several times on our trip. The 2 of them have clearly spent a lot of time together on the water. They worked together like a well-oiled machine.
Graham and Kristiann own Allende and it shows. We have chartered multiple times in BVI and their professionalism stands out in my eyes. They were willing to pick us up early and keep us on board late when our flight was delayed. Their attention to detail with boat care and maintenance was obvious. They knew the boat inside and out and were prepared to handle any situation that arose.
You will not be disappointed if you book a trip with them.. I feel like we have made new friends with Graham and Kristiann and hope to keep in touch with them in the coming years. Keep living your dream!”
— Derek J
Saloon
Spacious cockpit
Under sail
Relaxation on the bow
Primary Suite with private entrance to foredeck seating
Primary Suite
Double vanity
Bow Access from Primary Suite
Starboard aft cabin
Starboard aft cabin
Amidships cabin
Cockpit view
Dining Table
Primary shower with toiletries
Starboard aft head
Indoor dining area
Spacious flybridge with wet bar
2023 BVI Charter Yacht Show Winner
