The clinker-built, half-decked Emsworth lugger Matilda, ca. 16ft long, is seen under sail off Emsworth with the tack of its high-peaked dipping lugsail made fast to the windward gunwale just aft of the stem. The mast is stayed only by the halyard made fast to the windward gunwale aft of the mast. The helmsman is standing, tiller in one hand and sheet in the other and a second man onboard is seated. A fisherman's anchor overhangs the bow. Beside the seated passenger the top of a wooden box is visible.