The best way to pass boats when rounding a leeward mark to port is to do a Mexican takedown. The Mexican allows you to carry the spinnaker right into the rounding while also preventing the sail from falling into the water. You’ll be the inside right-of-way boat, entitled to mark room over boats doing leeward takedowns. Here’s how to do it:

Going into the turn, the spinnaker is over trimmed pulling the foot right up to the deck. As the driver does the smooth left turn, this well-choreographed sailing ballet results in the spinnaker inverting and now laying on the new windward side of the jib. Here are the “steps:”

1. The bow team grabs the foot of the spinnaker as it collapses onto the windward side of the jib, 
2. The pit person smokes the halyard,
3. As the sail slides down the jib onto the deck, the bow team gathers it in,
4. The pit person then blows the tack line, and 
5. The sail gets stuffed down the forward hatch with at least three quarters of the sail on the deck before going upwind.

UK Sailmakers presents how to do a Mexican or Kiwi spinnaker drop.

The best way to pass boats when rounding a lured mark to port is to do a Mexican takedown.

The Mexican allows you to carry the spinnaker right into the rounding while also preventing the sail from falling into the water.

You'll be the inside right-of-way boat and entitled to room over boats doing traditional lured takedowns.

The Mexican, more on that name later, is a jibe drop.

Going into the turn, the spinnaker is over-trimmed, pulling the foot right onto the deck.

As the driver goes into a smooth left turn, this well-choreographed sailing ballet results in the spinnaker inverting and now laying on the new windward side of the jib.

The bow grabs the foot of the spinnaker as it collapses onto the windward side of the jib.

As the sail slides down the jib onto the deck, the bow team gathers it in.

The pit person then blows the tack line and the sail gets stuffed down the forward hatch with at least 3 quarters of the sail on deck before going upwind.

The beauty of a Mexican takedown is that the helm and upwind trimmers can go through their business of building speed and establishing their lane without distraction.

If executed properly you'll have gone into the mark with max speed having the spinnaker drawing right until the very end and as an inside right-of-way boat you can do a smooth wide and tight tactical rounding within the zone, forcing other boats away from the mark.

Another advantage of the Mexican is that the spinnaker will be set up on the correct side of the boat for the next port set.

And, unless something in the Mexican goes left on you, your spinnaker will be dry and not twisted into a knot as it's stuffed down the hatch.

The derivation of this name is purely geographical.

Buddy Melgis concocted this maneuver on America Cubed during the 92 Americas Cup trials in San Diego.

With the prevailing winds in that area, virtually every time he came into the then-used port rounding his bow was pointed towards Mexico.

In the Southern Hemisphere, where Mexico has little relevance, this maneuver is called the Kiwi Drop.

Frankly, we're not sure why it's called the Kiwi Drop down under, but if you know, send the story to info at UKsailmakers.com.

Like any maneuver, you should practice the Mexican takedown before attempting it in a race.

When perfected, it's fast, tactically effective, and it gives the crew a shot of adrenaline as the boat turns upwind, with the entire crew being part of this sailing ballet.

Heck, what more could you ask for in 1 maneuver?

The proceeding was designed to talk to ace in boats, but you can still execute a Mexican.

After all, it was first done on 12 meters.

You'll have to stay high enough in your approach to turn down and soak into the mark, drop the pole and then let the sail float for a few seconds as the sheet is used to gathering the foot.

Learn how to do the Mexican and other spinnaker takedowns at UKsailmakers.com how-to and see the video library it's all there so you can sail with confidence


Speaker 0: UK Sailmakers presents how to do a Mexican or Kiwi spinnaker drop. The best way to pass boats when rounding a lured mark to port is to do a Mexican takedown. The Mexican allows you to carry the spinnaker right into the rounding while also preventing the sail from falling into the water. You'll be the inside right-of-way boat and entitled to room over boats doing traditional lured takedowns. Here's how to do it.

The Mexican, more on that name later, is a jibe drop. Going into the turn, the spinnaker is over-trimmed, pulling the foot right onto the deck. As the driver goes into a smooth left turn, this well-choreographed sailing ballet results in the spinnaker inverting and now laying on the new windward side of the jib. Here are the steps. The bow grabs the foot of the spinnaker as it collapses onto the windward side of the jib.

Then the pit person smokes the halyard. As the sail slides down the jib onto the deck, the bow team gathers it in. The pit person then blows the tack line and the sail gets stuffed down the forward hatch with at least 3 quarters of the sail on deck before going upwind. The beauty of a Mexican takedown is that the helm and upwind trimmers can go through their business of building speed and establishing their lane without distraction. If executed properly you'll have gone into the mark with max speed having the spinnaker drawing right until the very end and as an inside right-of-way boat you can do a smooth wide and tight tactical rounding within the zone, forcing other boats away from the mark.

Another advantage of the Mexican is that the spinnaker will be set up on the correct side of the boat for the next port set. And, unless something in the Mexican goes left on you, your spinnaker will be dry and not twisted into a knot as it's stuffed down the hatch. Voila! Now what's with this name, the Mexican? The derivation of this name is purely geographical.

Buddy Melgis concocted this maneuver on America Cubed during the 92 Americas Cup trials in San Diego. With the prevailing winds in that area, virtually every time he came into the then-used port rounding his bow was pointed towards Mexico. In the Southern Hemisphere, where Mexico has little relevance, this maneuver is called the Kiwi Drop. Frankly, we're not sure why it's called the Kiwi Drop down under, but if you know, send the story to info at UKsailmakers.com. Like any maneuver, you should practice the Mexican takedown before attempting it in a race.

When perfected, it's fast, tactically effective, and it gives the crew a shot of adrenaline as the boat turns upwind, with the entire crew being part of this sailing ballet. Heck, what more could you ask for in 1 maneuver? Now symmetrical spinnaker boats. The proceeding was designed to talk to ace in boats, but you can still execute a Mexican. After all, it was first done on 12 meters.

You'll have to stay high enough in your approach to turn down and soak into the mark, drop the pole and then let the sail float for a few seconds as the sheet is used to gathering the foot. Learn how to do the Mexican and other spinnaker takedowns at UKsailmakers.com how-to and see the video library it's all there so you can sail with confidence

See all UK Sailmakers transcripts on Youtube

How To Do a Mexican Takedown Also Called the Kiwi Drop