A pair of fishing boats with ochre sails tilt into the wind at the left of the scene, their hulls painted in deep reds and greens that stand out against the blue sea. The choppy water fills almost the entire canvas, rendered with thick, swirling strokes of blue, turquoise, and white that suggest movement and foam. In the foreground, the brushwork becomes especially vigorous, with ridges of impasto catching the light and creating the illusion of cresting waves.

Touches of yellow and green flicker across the surface, hinting at sunlight glancing off the water and the play of reflections. Further back, a line of smaller boats sails toward the horizon, their sails catching the same wind that animates the waves below. Above, the sky is a patchwork of blue, streaked with rapid, horizontal strokes that echo the restless energy of the sea.

The composition leads from the foaming foreground diagonally toward the cluster of boats and the distant, flat line of the horizon. The signature 'Vincent' appears in red at the lower right corner, standing out against the cool tones of the water. The right edge of the painting is dominated by swirling, layered strokes of pale blue and white, suggesting the brightest highlights on the water.

Near the lower left corner, streaks of yellow and green are more pronounced, contrasting sharply with the cooler blues. The sky at the upper left corner is denser with short, overlapping brushstrokes, creating a sense of thick, moving clouds. Along the horizon, the smallest boats are rendered as tiny dabs and lines, some with faint orange hulls and upright masts.

The paint in the foreground is applied so thickly in places that it forms raised ridges, casting tiny shadows that emphasize the texture of the waves.