Page "Sailing" Paragraph 102

* The SOLAS ( International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ) regulations, specifically Chapter V, which became mandatory for all leisure craft users of the sea from 1 July 2002.

These regulations place the obligations for safety on the owners and operators of any boat including sailboats.

They specify the safety equipment needed, the emergency procedures to be used appropriate to the boat's size and its sailing range, and requirements for passage planning with regard to weather and safety.