A slightly distant view of ten spritsail barges, oyster smacks and bawleys under sail at the start of a barge match in the Thames Estuary. They are seen from off the port bow while on the port tack except for one barge in the background which is seen from off her starboard beam. The vessel in the centre is the Maldon oyster smack Priscilla (1893) with her port registry MN76 on her hull.