When an ocean crosses a reef it rises up and forms breaking waves thus indicating to the alert sailor the razor sharp dangers that lurk beneath his ship. In this illustration Bounty slides through a break in the reef to enter the safety of Matavai bay. But as the illustration demonstrates with only sail and a tiny rudder is a dangerous procedure. There were no second chances. The Bounty rides high aft and the ocean occupies almost two thirds of the picture its masts disappearing as her stern lifts on top of the following wave.