The closest lakes that I can get too are no more than 500 acres. The one with the best access, and a complete lack of motor boaters is only 350 acres. Granted I love sheeting in and getting settled on a huge expanse of water but some of the advantages I see to the small lakes is that you are forced to practice tacks and gybes. And there is some added security when worse turns to worse, eventually you will be blown to shore. Another disadvantage, or maybe and advantage depending how you look at it, is that the winds tend to be rather erratic, which really makes you become aware of the tells on the water.