FD2
Did you ever investigate why the RN refused your offer?
I'm sure that SRCC (Mountwise as was) did investigate, as it was they who 'offered our services' and relayed the Naval response that it was 'their show' - the Fastnet that is.
BTW, we were only one unit, C Flt 22 Sqn RAF Valley, which could have responded. B Flt 202 at Brawdy and the newly formed SKTU, actually at Culdrose, with brand new Sea King HAR 3 and a fully operational crew, were also turned down by the glory hunters.
As a yachtsman and a professional SAR pilot I was/am appalled at the RN's amateur approach to SAR back then - damned right I'm bitter. The RN seemed to wallow in inter-service rivalry and I assume that the reason they came under RAF RCC opcon subsequent to the Fastnet was due to lessons learned.