Draft demo

Small chance of wind but I had to go and order replacement parts for my 60cm Cab bar . . .

Wind picked up while I was there, and Miyachi got the 17m Naish Draft for me to play with.

Thoughts on the Draft . . .

• Valves suck. Old School small diameter (but easy to pump) although they don't stay 'closed' when you pull the pump out.
• Quick 'n' easy to pump . . . kite looks small, more like a 13!
• No pulleys.
• Used a race bar . . . it needs a stopper ball. Feels like it wants to stall and fall outa the sky when you sheet right out.
• Bar pressure is . . . horrendous. Like nothing I've felt since the 2006 XB with the pulley bar.
• Turns sharp but like the XB doesn't make any power doing it.
• Apparent wind is where this kite excels.
• And that's the only area it does. All that bar pressure for that small advantage? I'll have my Flite, please. Not that impressed with the jumps or hang time and I'm not really keen to try it out in good wind when I could jump.

Lotsa walking which wasn't fun. Got to the point where I could just hold ground on the Dialler, and swapped to the Flydoor and was just going upwind. The other guys were all still waking at that stage, so I guess the apparent wind the Draft builds is good. Or better, on the flatter 'door.

Rode till dark, which now is about 6:30 :(

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Moment of the day was riding upwind.
Mood of the session was unsatisfied.

Weather was reported as 6 to 12 knots, gusts to 14. 27˚C at 67%.
Wind felt like it should have been easier to go upwind.

What I learned today . . .

• Draft is not a kite for me.
• Bottom end on the Flydoor is easier to tap than the Dialer.
• I need new shorts.