I'm not really a bow kite fan and wasn't expecting much from the new kite. How wrong I was!
More of a hybrid design than the Primadonna, it's still a 5line kite, but has double front line attachments (no pulleys) and a slightly flatter overall shape. The DV also comes with one-pump which is welcome on a large kite. Only 5 struts on this kite (as opposed to 7 for most JNs), but the canopy shape is very clean - not a wrinkle in sight.
In flight it felt similar to the 13m Primadonna on the turn, slightly more depower but retaining that linear feel. The 12m Bat has a better low end than the 13m Primadonna, and boosts very well indeed, even in light winds. It also pulls nice and cleanly in kiteloops although not quite as smooth and tidy as the Primadonna, but really not far off.
Sadly, I never got to try it fully lit to test the top end, but I'd imagine that you would get excellent range on this kite.
I lent the kite to a landboarder who usually flys Ions, and he was amazed at the low wind performance and boosting ability.. "easily better than the 12.5 Ion" and that's hardly a bad kite.
The Da Vinci has been quite a surprise. I think it's possibly the best kite in the range for the majority of riders. JN deserve to shift a lot of these this season.
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