I Life raft is just like an insurance policy, something that costs extra and you hope you do not need it, but if you get into a situation where you need one you will regret not having one.

I am a med sailor (Coastal) an luckily my boat came with one, I would still have invested in one anyway.

UK sailing has much colder waters, it is not so much how far you sail from the shore, but how far you can swim in cold water espicially if injured or already tired after trying to save the boat.

Down to personal choice, my choice is to have one.