At 6.13pm on 2 November 1991, Dover lifeboat honorary secretary, Captain Peter White, was informed by Dover coastguard that the Belgian yacht Phaedra was in distress near the Sandettie. The lifeboat crew pagers were activated and at 6.24pm, Dover's 50ft (15.25m) Thames class lifeboat 'Rotary Service' was launched under the command of Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Tony Hawkins. The wind was SW force 9 and the sea. was rough with a heavy swell. In view of the conditions, Coxswain Hawkins had selected his best available crew for the service.

At 6.30pm using the lifeboat's VHF direction finder, the area of the casualty's position was identified from a radio signal. At the same time, a red flare was sighted by the lifeboat and the P&O ferry Pride of Bruges. At 6.52pm, the Coastguard gave a revised position for the casualty of 18 miles ESE of Dover and suggested that this would be to distant for the lifeboat, in prevailing conditions. Coxswain Hawkins reported his intention to continue and gave his estimated time of arrival at the casualty as around 7.40pm.

The rescue operation was being co-ordinated by the French authorities at Gris Nez and in addition to Dover lifeboat and the P&O ferry, the Sally Line ferry Sally Sky, helicopters from France, Belgium and RAF Manston and the Calais lifeboat were also involved. At 7.44pm the lifeboat reported sighting the casualty, an 11m Bermudan sloop, in company with another yacht Donita. Three persons were missing overboard and a further three remained on board. Phaedra's storm jib was blown out and the craft was being blown down wind at around 3 knots. The wind was now SW force 8-9, it was dark, overcast and with rain squalls. The sea was very rough with a heavy swell running at 12-20ft (3-6m). At 7.46pm, Pride of Bruges was appointed 'on scene commander' and Coxswain Hawkins advised that he would take the casualty in tow and leave the search for survivors to other vessels for the time being.

The coxswain decided to approach the yacht stern first to put a crew member aboard, judging this to be the safest method. By careful use of the engines astern, the port quarter of the lifeboat was brought alongside the port quarter of the yacht. At 7.52pm Crew Member David Pascall was able to step aboard, with first aid equipment and a portable radio.

The three on board were badly shaken and in need of medical attention. A man (a physiotherapist) diagnosed his own injuries as a broken clavicle and wrist; a woman was diabetic and appeared very poorly; a 12 year old boy was shaken, but otherwise well. Before taking the yacht in tow, it was decided to transfer Crew Member Rodney Goldsack aboard the yacht to assist Pascall. Working in the lee provided by the ferry Sally Sky, the lifeboat ran down the starboard side of the yacht and Goldsack leaped aboard. The lifeboat was now placed ahead of the yacht and a heaving line attached to a towline was thrown to Pascall. As he was hauling on the line, Coxswain Hawkins saw the Sally Sky bearing down rapidly. Instructing Pascall to make fast the heavy line quickly, Hawkins drove the lifeboat astern dragging the yacht clear of the ferry by a matter of feet. Thanks to the coxswain's swift action and Pascall's forethought in slacking away on the heaving line to prevent it parting on strain, a collision was avoided. Following this manoeuvre the towline was washed under the lifeboat and cut by the rope cutters protecting the propellers. The towline was, however, passed again and secured.

At 8.34pm, Coxswain Hawkins decided to tow the yacht to Dunkirk West, it being the nearest port and less hazardous than returning to Dover. On board the yacht, Crew Member Pascall stayed in the cockpit to steer the vessel while Crew Member Goldsack attended to the survivors, making them as comfortable and warm as possible and checking that the craft was still sound. However, due to the sea conditions the passage was quite rough and the woman seemed to be slipping into a diabetic coma. At 11.45pm, the lifeboat and yacht were safely secured in Dunkirk Harbour and the casualties were transferred to a waiting ambulance. Dover Coastguard reported that the wind strength off Dover was 55 knots and asked whether the lifeboat would remain in harbour until the wind abated. Coxswain Hawkins however, indicated his intention to return to sea to help search for the missing persons. At 00.03am, after a warming drink, the lifeboat cleared its berth but at the same time it was learned that the French authorities had called off the search. In view of the weather conditions, Coxswain Hawkins decided to proceed in case the lifeboat was needed on the English side. The lifeboat left harbour at 00.25am and best speed was maintained in the extremely rough conditions. Second Coxswain Dennis Bailey was steering from the upper bridge, until relieved by Hawkins off the South Goodwin Light Vessel at 1.45am. Dover Coastguard reported the wind speed as SW 63 knots, gusting to over 70 knots. By 2.46pm, the lifeboat was back at her berth in Dover Docks where she was refuelled and made ready for service once more. Of the three yachtsmen lost overboard, one was picked up by the yacht Donita and has since recovered, but the other two have not been found.