This coloured lithograph depicts four naval vessels, Pantaloon, Curacoa, Barham and Stag, part of Sir Edward Codrington’s Fleet, beating into the wind off Dodman Point, Cornwall. A fifth vessel, Charybdis, is on the left far horizon. Pantaloon, which is central in the picture, is close hauled on a port tack, while the others are on a starboard one, crossing Pantaloon’s stern. The sea is quite rough and the ships do not have all their sails hoisted.