When I was looking to buy a yacht Ange (my wife) was extremely influential as to what I bought and where I kept it. After all, Ange looked after the purse strings. I wanted something that could comfortably accommodate two adults and two kids for a couple of days at a time. For me, as Ange had never sailed before and as the kids have their own issues, where the boat lived was going to more important than the boat itself. 

Windermere offers all the facilities that we could want, the lake wardens are kinda cool, they have been incredibly patient with me, answered every conceivable question that my wife could possibly think of, both relevant and those not so.... She panics :) and been perfect with our son. 

Windermere also presents its own set of challenges. Whilst sailing at sea you have tides and currents and shipping lanes to contend with in addition to the weather, Windermere requires a whole new skill set. Whilst the lake doesn't have tides, and the current is negligible the weather will keep you on your toes and taking your eyes off the water is likely to result in either impaling a renta-boat or being impaled by one. The tour boats have right of way - understandable as they are commercial traffic after all, however, they do seem to be piloted by neanderthals that go out of their way to make your life difficult. Windermeres' winds shift for fun, you can happily sail from Bowness northwards on a broad reach/run with a south westerly then as you approach Brockhole on the east you can see another boat also on a broad reach/run.... heading towards you! Many times I have found my self using every point of sail within an hour having never changed course. At 11 miles long, there are lots of places to explore with the kids. Little islands with various wildlife, creeks running into the lake, tourist spots and those potential once in a lifetime views that only nature could stage.

I'm sure as time goes by, probably when the mooring blocks need changing, we will move Lagoda to Morecambe Bay, where we will enjoy the delights of salty water, tides, prevailing winds and the big wide world.