A starboard near broadside view, taken from only just abaft the beam, of the barque-rigged cadet training ship Gorch Fock (1958) under sail in the Solent off Cowes. All of her squaresails and headsails are set and her three main staysails are about to be set. She is in the Solent for the Tall Ships Race to the Skaw which started on 16 August 1972. Beyond her stern is a Royal Navy Rothesay class Type 12 frigate which is at anchor acting as guardship. A large number of small yachts, dinghies and motor leisure craft are in the picture, including an auxiliary sloop named Firecrest (1959) with sail number 767.