Approximately half an hour after launching on a routine training exercise, the lifeboat was requested by Thames Coastguard to proceed to a broken down speedboat half a mile NW of Whitstable Harbour.

On arrival at the given position the speedboat could not be seen, so the lifeboat began to search southwestwards towards Seasalter.

At 1125 the speedboat was found half a mile off Seasalter Sailing Club. The two occupants were brought aboard the lifeboat, and the craft, which it was discovered had run out of fuel, was taken in tow for the launching ramp at Whitstable Harbour.