A rapidly painted sketch form the 'Birkdale'. Everett has used colour to show the effects of cloud over the sea. The upper clouds are painted using several tones of pink to indicate the rays from the sun. Below this the cloud is tinged grey to indicate shadow. The brush strokes are loosely applied and demonstrate Everett's efforts to capture fleeting visual effects. 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 with the artist's monogram bottom right, and 'Birkdale' verso.