The drawing is one of a group of drawings in the collection in pen and ink and wash which van de Velde made to illustrate his method of drawing ships so that they appear in the correct relative sizes when shown at different distances. In this study in perspective the horizon line has been ruled and the vessels and the figures in the boats have been drawn so that the horizon line passes through them at a height of four feet, wherever they are placed in the drawing.

In the left foreground there is a port view of a boeier with a boat alongside and another under her bow and in the centre middle-distance a starboard bow view of a Dutch two-decker at anchor with flag and pendant at the mainmast. To the right there is a ships boat being rowed and a smalschip bow view in a light air. The additions in brown ink are to the waterline and lower tier of ports of the ship which was first drawn rather too high out of the water. On the reverse there is a drawing of two fishing pinks and a group of people on the Dutch coast. The drawing is unsigned.