Four men are at work stowing away the mainsail of a sailing ship. The perspective has been abruptly foreshortened with a viewpoint looking down and forward from above the men, towards the foremast and the ship's fo'c'sle. This helps to provide the sensation of a rolling ship in a heavy sea.

Brangwyn trained as a wood engraver and in his early days worked under William Morris. He made a large body of woodcuts and an astonishing quantity of etchings, as well as a few lithographs. His early work revolved around the sea and this work emanates from his 'grey' period when he worked with a limited palette. He was interested in photography and the cut-off appearance of the picture and viewpoint suggests that influence, while the limited tones of this work are also reminiscent of black-and-white photography and the use of the negative. In 1892 he began working as designer for the magazine, 'The Graphic'. This painting, produced two years later, shows an appreciation of monochrome techniques which were necessary in his work as an illustrator. The painting has been signed and dated 'F.B. 94' by the artist on the lower left on the mast.