Rescue mandated to attend capsize?

Does the RYA mandate that any and all capsized boats need to be attended to by a rescue boat?

Sailing at different clubs I have seen widely different standards: open sea courses where the rescue just stands off 500m away in case anyone needs a tow home; versus rescue boats racing to attend a capsized laser (for instance) where the helm is already on the centreboard.

What is the required standard? Is there a standard?

When I am doing a rescue duty and boats are over I do a head count and instruct the assistant to keep their eyes open too.

johnreekie and jeffers  both make  very straightforward  but  sensible points that strike a good balance.

I've previous suggested that part of the problem with rescue  sometimes  is that unless  they are racers themselves they closely follow the training they  were given   when doing their powerboat course -  which tends to be very much  abinitio  instruction focused  , ditto with  rescue boats   tearing  through the fleet   unless there's  a definite life threat , for the few seconds  it takes to pick the spot to cross the fleet / go 'behind' the pack  vs the hassle of barging through  putting   the rescue boat and the other sailors  at greater risk ... - do wonder if that  was also where Knee wreckers issue with the over zealous kid was ...  it would not suprise me  if  he genuinely was 'a kid' that   the ink was barely dry on this PB2 and /or Dinghy  Instructor  tickets ... 

in the past when doing rescue for racing  i would make towards  any  boat that  goes over  and assess  very much as john suggests in his post 

If the headcount is off  or someone is obviously struggling to the extent of putting themslves and others at  risk  then it's time to engage and work on the basis of  saving life and limb , ditto if it;s  heavy weather than there are significant numbers of capsizes / broaches happening .

 The rule has to be  once you've  accepted the help the rescue boat  'commander' is  IC the incident  until s/he  decides the incident is resolved.

Edited by zippyRN - 13 Oct 14 at 3:37pm

Rescue boats are not mandatory are they?

Originally posted by kneewrecker depends on whose legislation - RYA, no.  But part of the lease agreement at Draycote is AIUI, 100% rescue boat uptime- hence why there are water opening and closing times.

Ah fair enough, thanks!