The small boat with her mainsail half lowered in the centre is a 'kaag' (a Dutch vessel with a straight raking stem and clinker-built). A vane striped blue and yellow is at the masthead and a flag in the same colours is at the peak. A 'weyschuit' (a small Dutch open boat with a raking stern) approaches across rough seas from the left. In the right distance a 'smalschip' (a small Dutch transport vessel) or similar boat can be seen.
Another signed picture of a similiar subject by Willem van de Velde is in Stockholm (Nationalmuseum).
