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Oil on canvas, 72.5 x 121cm
This is one of the famous 'follow me' incidents when a pilot boat led a group of vessels into the Mersey during storm conditions.
Walters portrays the occasion on 9 January 1866 when the number 8 pilot boat, Pride of Liverpool, brought in twelve vessels from beyond the Mersey Bar and led them to safety up the Crosby Channel (the buoy marks the channel mouth).
The schooner rigged pilot boat is shown in the centre ground, battling against the gale conditions. She is flying the pilot flag from her main mast and the signal "Will you follow me" at the fore mast. In the distance to the right is the group of vessels following her. Although there are various flags depicted it is not possible to identify all the vessels individually and Walters has shown seven of the twelve assisted.