You're getting confused with an old story about a classic that ended up in Learmonth.
Not sure where departure point was aircraft was inbound to perth on a final command check. Perth went u/s on zero notice so aircraft headed to LM. Forecast was OK but after they went around at least once (and probably twice) due to the crappy weather that was actually at LM, skipper decided to let down heading west until he broke visual about 500' and came on back and landed at LM.
From the version of events that I recall, ditching never got a mention and the F/As certainly didn't 'prepare liferafts'- but woftam has already covered that!
The skipper passed his command check though!
I'll see if I can track the story down again.