Heart-stopping photos of a million-dollar yacht falling from a sling and plunging bow-first into the water with two crewmen aboard shot across the Internet earlier this year. They continue to get passed from inbox to inbox, receive endless scrutiny on forums and even garnered a mention on Snopes.com, the online debunker of urban legends.

Curious about the story behind the photos – and what happened to that boat – Mad Mariner did a little digging. The search led us to Carver Yachts, where spokesman Dick Nocenti verified that the photos are real and provided details about the accident.

This picture sparked an Internet frenzy as readers speculated whether it was legitimate. It is shown here in its original state. The image on Mad Mariner's home page was color enhanced to improve visibility.

The brand-new 55-foot Carver Marquis – baseline price $1.2 million, and closer to $2 million out the door – was being off-loaded for delivery to its new owner in Dubai's Port Jbel Ali on March 7, Nocenti said. An insurance representative was on hand snapping pictures and two Carver representatives were aboard, ready to ferry the boat to its owner as soon as it hit the water.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

But the boat, about four stories up over roughly 45 feet of water, began slipping from the rear strap due to "wind and water action," Nocenti said. The straps around the bow and stern of the boat were not tied together, which he said is a common practice when unloading yachts.