I've flown, bought, and sold many kites over the last few years ...gradually streamlining my kite bag to a few select favorites ...an R-Sky NFX Manga, an NFX Extend, a Mohawk XS, etc. There aren't too many kites on the kite market that I haven't flown, at least briefly if not more ...and since I still thoroughly enjoy the above mentioned favorites, there wasn't much desire or temptation to add anything new to my bag.
That was before I flew Will's new Saber II. Although I usually prefer a slightly smaller kite, Will's Saber II doesn't have that 'heavy' feel that I didn't particularly care for in most larger kites I have flown. It also seems to do just about everything I can do with a kite ...very very well. It has moderate to light pull for a larger sail and ...is smooth and precise. After flying Will's Saber II at Treasure Island this past January, I knew it would be my next duel-line kite purchase, when my kite funds were replenished.
It just arrived via UPS...just in time for a planned trip to the beach this weekend!
I'm really looking forward to flying my own Saber II. I hope the winds are co-operative!
ohhh...and here's a pic. of SaberII #11. I was inspired to go with the same color scheme as the OP's Saber II.
Will has incorporated a couple of nice construction techniques. I like how he is doing the LE spreader connector cut-outs. They are rounded ...or oval (hot cut I believe) on the the ends which should prevent the dacron LE material from tearing as easily as a straight cut. He has also folded the dacron over on the inside of the LE strip and straight stitch sewn so that the open edge should be more durable and should not be subject to fraying. One more nice touch, IMO ...I like the way he beefed up and strengthened the trailing edge areas. Instead of using Mylar which tends to deteriorate and crack as it ages on a kite, Will has 'double layered' the entire large 'charcoal' trailing edge sail panel ...and added an extra 'triple' layer to the lower portion of the panel ...sewing vertical straight-line stitches on the three to keep them taught and from separating!
LE Cut-out:
...and yes ..I realized, after taking the pic, that the bridle line should have been over top of the connector.
Those new Skyshark 2PX rods look sharp!
Modified post to add a close-up photo of the trailing edge from the back of the kite;
