On Thursday, 18th February 1904, the barque—or possibly barge—named Mabel Maud from Rochester, captained by Smith, was en route from London to Chichester. Following a brief stop at Newhaven, it departed in the morning but swiftly returned to Newhaven with the crew of the fishing lugger Sanfoin, S41, owned by Captain E. Gillam of Shoreham.
The Sanfoin had collided with the Mabel Maud and sank at 10:15, approximately three miles west of the harbour and about two miles off Portobello. The Sanfoin's three-man crew managed to board the Mabel Maud before their vessel went down. The Mabel Maud incurred only minor damage.
Although the Shipwreck Index records the 'Sanfoim' (sic) as having sunk near Cuckmere, all reports indicate its sinking occurred to the west of Newhaven.
