Gentlemen
To fly for the best part of 6 hours on task, manually, on a dark and ****ty night at 300 feet in 70mph winds, with a sea state of 6+ and wave heights touching 90 feet requires a special ability which is not easily learned flying at 29,000ft in 3 degree banked turns.
Of course the SAR was diverted when the weather deteriorated. That's why we employ the Met Office, Ops staff and all other agencies to ensure 365 day cover.
We don't guess at this - We are always ahead of the game: it's planned in a safe and timely fashion ensuring the ready crew are well placed and rested prior to any call-out.
Suggesting a MR1 is launched on SAR (if available) is akin to asking a police underwater diving team to carry out a mountain recue search for lost climbers.
Might be difficult and take time, so always use your specialists.
I was involved with the rescue of "La Parraine" last year which resulted in the spectacular lift, at extreme range - 220 miles - (18 crew in 22 mins) by that magnificent Lossie Sea King crew in similar (frightning) conditions.