No, you do not need a license or certification to operate a sailing yacht for recreational
purposes in the UK, as long as it is not used for commercial purposes. However, it's
important to have sailing experience and knowledge to operate a sailing yacht safely. If you
plan to charter a yacht for sailing or operate a sailing yacht abroad, you will need a
qualification which is usually an RYA Day Skipper qualification, Make sure you do your own
research to determine which qualification best suits your needs.