An English yacht at anchor furling sail, 1684 (graphite, grey wash)

Creator: Willem van de Velde, the Elder This work is a free drawing, showing a small yacht at anchor in the foreground, viewed from a point ahead of the starboard beam. Men are depicted vigorously brailing up the mainsail. On the right – and partially obscured by the yacht – is a view of a galliot, depicted from the port broadside, with all its sails set. In the foreground on the left is another vessel which is a fishing wherry. This ship is rigged with a small spritsail in the bow. There is a small ship depicted in the middle-distance of the composition and there is a coastline in the background. The drawing may have been made during the visit to Chatham for the launch of the 'Royal Sovereign' but it is drawn much more rapidly than its related picture, PAI7282. It has been tentatively dated to 1684 based on the drawing’s watermark.