British tabloids had a field day yukking it up over a Sealine factory delivery crew which managed to run a brand new F-37 up on the bricks off Falmouth, England. A British Coast Guard vessel responded immediately and tried to tow the vessel to the closest beach.

Promotional photo of the Sealine 37 during happier circumstances.

The Sealine F-37, worth £200,000 ($400,000 US), was on its way from Southampton, England to its new owner in Ireland. This was very much a routine delivery in the month of August. The mission of the factory crew was to motor the boat safely along the south coast of England in the English Channel, then take it across the Irish Sea -- a body of water that is unpredictable and famous for its unpleasant conditions.

Two on the Rocks

The two-man delivery crew stopped at Falmouth, Cornwall, to refuel. On their way back out to sea the pair managed to crash into the rocks at Zone Point, near St. Anthony’s Head. Reports said that the crew clambered out on to rocks and watched in horror as the 36-knot cruiser named Seaworks began sinking with a “split hull.” Lifeboat crews and a coast guard vessel attempted to save the vessel by lashing the two boats together, the Sealine’s starboard side to rescue vessel’s port side, then towing it on to a beach.

But unfortunately the Sealine had already filled with too much water to be saved and was abandoned to the sea. Minutes later the boat could be seen floating with its bow above water.

Falmouth coastguard spokesman Terry Collins said: “We’re not sure how they did it, but they have some serious explaining to do. "They were unhurt but their problems have only just begun. Somewhere out there is a rich sailor who forked out a fortune for a boat which never arrived.”

Even though the boat was taking on water it stayed afloat long enough for a large cutter to strap it alongside in a desperate try to dash to a beach. But then it had to be abandoned.

A spokesman for Falmouth Lifeboat Station is quoted in the British newspaper, The Daily Mail, as saying that the vessel was travelling at 16 knots when it crashed. He said, "They told us it was imported from America so the owner has obviously been waiting a while for his new boat."

In fact the Sealines are built in the UK, not America.

“They were too close to the coast and hit sharp rocks and the boat never stood a chance. The bottom was shattered completely,” said the coast guardsman. “They were gutted as you would be if you'd just crashed someone else's powerboat worth more than most people will ever see.”

“We tried to drag it to the beach but it sank.”

Some Explaining To Do

Reportedly, the two crew didn't hang around and they got the first bus back to Southampton and “looked very worried.” One wonders how they explained their mishap to the folks at Sealine.

We’d like to hear how you would explain this mishap at sea to your boss. Best explanation gets a coveted Ducky.

Explanations please...