So, thus far the best luck I've had in my crappy wind has been with my 6m HQ NPW5 and I'm starting to wonder if I can get even more out of the wind I have with a larger NPW. Right now most of my flying is in gusts which reach around 8-10mph (by my really rough guestimation). While I don't think I'd reasonably be able to fly in what little constant wind I'm seeing it'd be great if I can get moving in smaller gusts.

I was thinking about getting something in the 9-12m range, but I'm curious about how such a kite will handle. Are the turns going to be much slower and will it lower the already poor upwind performance NPWs have?

Alternatively, I could try one of those Nasa Star 2s. It looks like they only go up to 7m(edit: I don't see it on their site, but it looks like they go up to 10m), but it sounds like they have a cool design. Would one these pull me better in even lighter winds?

I've got the 10m Nasa Star 2 and Steffen will make up to 12.5m for you if you want (he has made (or is making) some really big ones for a Spanish wind farm company.

It handles like all the NS2's - that is, spins on a wingtip (or thereabouts) So it certainly responds much, much quicker to steering input than my 9m Ozone Riot. It has enough power to park and ride with the buggy from about 5 knots. 11 knots and you'll be starting to get pulled sideways but dumping it onto the center line serves as an excellent safety.

Poor upwind performance..... I can't speak for NPW's in general, but I only seem to lose a couple of degrees compared to a low aspect foil - maybe an extra tack or two to get back from downwind on the dry lake bed. I've flown the 2.5m NS2 back to back with the Ozone Access 4m and found that I was only a couple of mph slower but much more relaxed flying the NS2. There's no doubt there is more sidepull on the harness - make sure you've got a comfy one.

There is also now (or about to be) the Nasa Star 3 which should be a little faster with a little better upwind ability - I'm not sure if Steffen will make you a larger custom size for the NS3's or not but you can always ask him - I think they will be available this month.

Finally, don't discount longer lines. Put some 30m lines (or line extensions) on your 6m and try it in light winds - you'll have a much bigger window which equals more time in the power zone to get you moving.

Last time out with the 10m with me was at Kingston this year, the wind was 3 - 3.5knots on the beach. Cris launched the 13m Vapor and proceeded to cruise quite quickly up and down the beach. I launched the 10m, and while there wasn't quite enough wind to buggy with down low, at 20ft or so there was at least double the wind speed and we had a blast up and down the beach with barely a ripple on the ocean. (there's some footage on the Kingston 2014 vid if you haven't seen it).

I've sold both my Apex II's as I've found the NS2's are more relaxing and reliable in my gusty conditions although certainly a little slower than the Apex's.

I probably should have mentioned I'm currently flying with ~5m lines because having full-length lines limits the already few places I can fly. I'm thinking 5m isn't the right compromise though and I'll try making a set of 10m lines to see if they do any better.

I'm currently flying unhooked on handles with my landboard and definitely noticing the sidepull. Might a strop and harness help me manage that?

The NS3 definitely has my interest, especially if it's at the same price point as the NS2s. I may end up buying one as soon as they're released if they really would help me fly in the weather I've got here.

As soon as you can get some longer lines. They will make a big difference. I can remember launching a kite at the beach. There was no wind on the ground but once you got the kite up on 100 ft. lines it was hard to hang on to it. If you are thinking about larger nasa wings I have plans from less then 1 meter all the way up to a 15 meter. These are the npw9 model. Just let me know.

Flying with a harness takes all the pull from the handles and puts it on the harness. You are able to fly for hours at a time without getting tired.

Susan (npw goddess)

The problem with longer lines is that I live in a city so there are very few places I can fly. Often I'm flying in soccer fields (potentially with other people around) so the less space I take up the more room I have to move around. I'm sure I'd be doing much better if I put my NPW on my 20m lines, but then I couldn't go very far without worrying about getting it caught in a tree or some power lines. Going to measure out some 10m lines today and see how much of a difference that makes.

What I'm wondering about the harness is whether it'll make the side pull more manageable on my landboard. I kind of like the exercise I get from handling the kite unhooked and it hasn't been a limiting factor on how long I've been out yet.

If you do not have the room for longer lines then you need a bigger kite.

Susan (npw goddess)

Of course after I say my arms have never been the limiting factor we get gusts twice as large as what I've been out in before and now my arms ache. I can see why people like harnesses.

It's not just saving the arms, but also lowering the pull point from the kite which makes the whole 'center of gravity' thing much easier to handle. Longer lines will make a HUGE difference although I appreciate your limited space. I was once zipping up and down the paddock with my 2.5m on 20m lines. Out of interests sake as I was packing up, I launched the 4m straight off the bar and couldn't make enough power to even move the bug. The other time I've flown on 5m lines was on the claypan at Kingston in 25knots in David Hobbs' carbon kite buggy - had to work the heck out of the 2.5m to get moving but once I started to get some apparent wind in the kite, whoa Nelly!!!