A rapid sketch from the deck of the 'Birkdale' showing a empty horizon. The sea is flat calm and painted in blue washes with short coloured brush strokes indicating waves. This contrasts with the pale sky interspersed with small clouds. They are represented by small blocks of pink and yellow colour hovering in the light blue sky. Everett joined the barque, 'Birkdale', and sailed from Bristol to Sabine Pass, Texas, April to June 1920. It was his first journey after World War I. The 'Birkdale' was due to take sulphur from Texas to the Cape, but when she arrived in Texas the ship was re-chartered to Australia and so Everett reluctantly left her and came home by steamer. The 'Birkdale', built in 1892, was the last barque to fly the red ensign and spent nearly all her working life in the Chilean nitrate trade. For a short time after World War I she switched to taking sulphur from Texas to the Cape. The 'Birkdale' went back to the nitrate trade and was wrecked on the Chilean coast after catching fire in 1927. The painting is inscribed 'Bq Birkdale Bristol to Sabine Texas 1920 or Cosmos Volga Sabine to Marseille all marked Birk' verso.