A scene showing a frigate off the southern English coast, possibly Devon. The ship sits at anchor and flies the red ensign, with her stern view visible and her boat tied alongside. Another smaller vessel is anchored close by and nearer to the sand bar. In the left centre of the painting a cutter is sailing astern of the frigate under full sail with several figures visible on deck. Sailing towards her is a small boat bringing down her red sails. One man attends to the foresail and the man in the stern is fastening the other sail and also holding the rudder. A third man faces the front and away from the fourth man wearing a red hat. He looks out from the boat towards the viewer. In the distance on the left a ship is shown under way.

The painting is signed in dark paint: ‘T.LUNY’ on the spar floating in the foreground on the left.