A ‘Man of War’ was a Royal Navy term for a large warship, such as the three-masted sailing ship shown here. Turner had a lifelong passion for ships and the sea. In 1827 he spent six weeks staying with his friend, the architect John Nash (1752–1835), at East Cowes Castleon the Isle of Wight. He watched Cowes Regatta and made numerous sketches of shipping. This impressive pencil drawing may have been made as a gift for a fellow guest. Turner uses short, heavy dashes to highlight details, while light shading suggests ripples and reflections in the water.