CREW PROFILES

TitleNameNationBornLicenses
CaptainGraham Gips American 1982 USCG 100 Ton
Chef/MateKristiann Gips American 1983 USCG 100 Ton, Ashburton Chefs Academy Graduate
Number of Crew: 3Languages:

Crew Profiles:
Captain Graham Gips & Chef/Mate Kristiann Gips

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 Stacey Law is the newest addition to the crew. Stacey is a fun, warm and energetic individual who excels at making guests feel welcome. She has had fascinating life experiences during her own extensive travels, and her stories surprise and delight.

Consummate hosts, Graham, Kristiann and Stacey 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 Stacey Law

Stacey has worked as a professional diving instructor since 2017 in various locations around the world including Indonesia, Philippines, the UK and the British Virgin Islands. In 2022, she joined a liveaboard dive yacht for a season in the Turks and Caicos and a season snorkeling with Humpback whales in the Dominican Republic.

Stacey loves interacting with guests, sharing interesting stories and really takes the time to ensure comfort for all, both in and out of the water. She has a particularly strong knowledge of the local dive sites in the British Virgin Islands and enjoys encouraging guests' interest in the underwater world.

Sneed Yacht Charters.