The artist has shown a Dutch man-of-war on the horizon to the left, port-broadside on, with small coastal craft sailing in front of it through waves caused by the fresh breeze. The vessel in the centre foreground of the picture is probably a boeier, a round Dutch craft with a deep rail and a curved spoon bow, with two sailors looking out to the left towards the man-of-war, leaning right into the wind. Immediately behind to the right is a yacht flying the Dutch flag and pennant. More shipping can be seen on the horizon to the far right.

The artist was trained by his father the painter George Cooke, and showed outstanding talent as a draughtsman. He helped Clarkson Stanfield with some of his commissions, took lessons in oil painting from James Stark in 1834, and assisted with the arrangement of exhibits for the Great Exhibition of 1851. He exhibited at the Royal Academy 1835-79, and was made ARA in 1851 and RA in 1863. His sketchbooks are in the National Maritime Museum, London. The painting was exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1848 and signed 'E W Cooke' in the lower right corner.