I've read most of Tristan Jone's books, and they all have a distinct writing style. 'Seagulls in my soup', however, has a distinctly different style. We do know from other work that Tristan is a tough nut. He reports the only time that he ever cried was when his eye was knocked out of its socket by a falling gaff and he had to shove the eye back into place. He also, normally, uses as many expletives as non expletives. Yet in this book the writer seems somewhat less than rough around the edges, embarrassed by the usual expletives, over uses adjectives and metaphors that can only be described as cringe material, and in general portrays Tristan as some kind of new aged sensitive type. Having said all this I think the book is fine in its own right, but I don't like the feeling of being conned. I really can't believe that the author is Tristan Jones.

He must have been in a great mood when he wrote this- the funniest of his books. Not so much about his sailing adventures as the array of characters he is surrounded by. Within every hilarious espisode, Jones is never without the pearls of wisdom which makes him the unique author he is. 5 stars and the north kicked in for good measure.

There might be a better Tristan Jones book,but this one ranks right in there with his best. If you've never read a tale by this master sailor and adventurer, then start with Saga of a wayward sailor, or maybe Ice, or even....ah well, what ever Jones book you read first, you'll be back here, guaranteed.No one ever has enough of the adventures of this salty lad. The angels of death visited him not long ago, so what we have is all we'll ever get. Enjoy, for there'll not be another like him.

I read Outward Leg several years ago and it inspired me to read just about all of his other books. His no nonsense, slighly irreverent style appeals to me as well as the fact that he has a great sense of humanity. A good book and a good read.

I have been in contact with Anthony Dalton over the last couple of years while he was writing this biography of Tristan Jones...Some believe every word he writes in his books, some who knew him doubt many of the stories he wrote. Finally, Tony Dalton has traveled all over the world collecting the facts. He has documented the cold truth in this extraordinary researched biography. I must admit that his conclusions are not the ones I wished for, but the truth is very often hard to accept. I have corresponded with many people who knew Tristan personally, and many have told me that what Tony recorded in his new book is true. Regardless, if you want to read some wonderful stories, read some of Tristan Jones books. Fact or fiction, I loved every one.

What Tristan Jones lacks in great writing skills he makes up for with great story telling and sheer guts. In 1985, as the Soviet Union was quickly approaching its high water, mark he threw caution to the wind and began a tumultuous journey that would take him through the badlands of the Iron Curtain. Plunging up the freezing Rhine in his ocean going tri-hulled yacht, wintering in Germany, and losing his American crew of two to homesickness and better job opportunities were bad enough for this one legged sailor, but Jones had an objective that he wouldn't put aside lightly. He took on a fresh crew of one, a young German boy, and set off to conquer the Danube and Eastern Europe as the first person to transnavigate Europe in an ocean going tri-hull. The Improbable Voyage is a thought provoking perspective of Central and Eastern Europe at the height of the cold war. It highlights Europe's divisiveness during this time from one of Europe's major arteries, the Danube. It is realism at its best from the heart of a spirited traveler.