On the right is the fore part of a ship in the wind. Beyond her is a stern view of a rear-admiral with her fore topsail aback, falling off the wind. In the background is the admiral, flying a jack at the mizzen peak and firing a gun as a signal to come into line. The vice-admiral is in the distance and another ship in the wind on the left.

This drawing bears a false ‘W.V.W’ signature and is inscribed on the back in the same hand, ‘W. Vande Velde’. The margins have been lined with pen and grey ink.

This is one of sixteen drawings in the NMM collection that appear to be from a group of which at least seventy were originally numbered, though others like this are not, made before the Battle of Solebay in 1672. There is also one each in the British Museum and Ashmolean Museum.