Ship's lifeboats from the Orient Line cruise ship Orcades (1937) in the water for racing at Korcula, Yugoslavia. Three ten-oared lifeboats, including number 9 nearest the camera and number 5 in the centre, are lined up for the start of the race. The boats are crewed by a mix of seamen and passengers. The seamen are in uniform and are stationed in the bow and at the helm of each boat. The passengers are doing the rowing with eight oars double banked and they are all wearing paper hats of various designs. The photographer is in the escorting motor lifeboat and the seamen in the racing boats are looking at the motor boat waiting for the signal to start.