Everett joined the barque, ‘Birkdale’, and sailed from Bristol to Sabine Pass, Texas between April and June 1920. This was the first journey he undertook after World War I. The ‘Birkdale’ was due to take sulphur from Texas to the Cape, but when she arrived in Texas the ship was re-chartered on to Australia. He had intended to continue in her to Cape Town but, after the Birkdale altered her destination, Everett reluctantly left her and returned home by steamer. ‘The Birkdale’ was built in 1892 and was the last barque to fly the red ensign. She spent most of her working life in the Chilean nitrate trade, but for a short time after World War I she switched to taking sulphur from Texas to the Cape. After this the ‘Birkdale’ returned to the nitrate trade and was wrecked on the Chilean coast after catching fire in 1927.

This dramatic scene shows the crew on the deck of the 'Birkdale' during a storm. The dark sails loom across the top of the painting and over the figures on the deck. The angles of the deck-house, mast and rigging exaggerate the pitch of the ship. Sailors stand in water, along the deck on the left as they pull on the rigging in the storm. One sailor can be seen high in the rigging pulling on ropes. Another sailor dressed in sou’wester and waterproofs, stands on the deck in the middle left of the painting. A large wave towers over the figures. This painting provides a convincing and rare eye witness account of the work of sailors on deep sea sailing ships. It is one of a series of deck scenes Everett made during this trip.