Canvas Flying, Seagulls Crying: From Scottish Lochs to Celtic Shores

It is rare for one to find a great book that you find yourself addicted to such that you limit yourself to a chapter per day, so that you maximize the enjoyment of reading. This book is that. My anticipation each day for the next experience of Justin and his wife was enthralling. The mixture of excitement and the ordinary life gave a sense of being very genuine. Great insight to the down to earth lifestyle of the sailing community.

I dived straight into this book after reading the first. It's just as lovely, funny and interesting. Like the first book, I've had countless moments where I've had to put my kindle down mid-read to finish enjoying the giggles that had sneaked up on me. This came from authors understated turn of phrase combined with his obvious enjoyment of the ridiculous human condition which includes his own behaviour, that of his lovely wife as well as countless characters they meet on their travels and inspires you to want to go on an adventure with them. Or at least get drunk in a cosy pub somewhere in their company if you're not partial to camping in the sea in Scotland in the middle of winter. We do sail and I'm obsessed with boats, but I'd suggest that's not a mandatory requirement to thoroughly enjoy this book. It's about life, being human and finding bucket loads of humour, opportunity, interest and achievement through the odd tricky time or sad moment. Please keep writing Mr Tyres and I wish you both many happy (safe) adventures in the future!

I found it occasionally difficult to follow the flow or lack of it from one scene to the next. The transitions were often awkward. Yet knowing this I would recommend it to a fellow sailor.

I have read many books about sailing and life living aboard but this and its predecessor, Phoenix from the Ashes, were by far the most enjoyable. Justin Tyers has a great gift of writing descriptive prose without overdoing it. The picture he paints is so clear that you are there with him and his wife Linda in the full fray of whatever mischief has befallen them. It's a refreshingly honest story that openly admits that he is not perfect and makes mistakes just like the rest of us. I commend this book to anyone with a keen interest in traditional boats and a yen for adventure in a world that has become too regimented and safety conscious.

A well written book with rich descriptions which paint humorous and colourful pictures of the characters the author encounters on his travels. My only criticism is that large chunks of the main characters life are missed out so it becomes more a collection of witty observations than a coherent story. Would also like more details on what they did each day and how they blended into the community on the remote Scottish island they ended up on. However I really enjoyed reading it and was rather sad when it had ended. Well worth reading.