Wave rating: 3/5

Flat water rating: 2/5

OK so there is some freestyle potential here, for certain!

Halfway along Hayle Bay between The Bluff and Gwithian, you’ll find Mexico’s beach. Named after a pub that’s no longer there, it has a wild, windy feel to it and is backed entirely by sand dunes.

This is a good place to head to when a strong SW is blowing in conjunction with a heaving swell. Mexico’s is not as sheltered as The Bluff but seems to clean the swell up a bit better than Gwithian, and it will be more manageable here when it’s huge.

A typical day producing whackable sections at Mexico's

At pure spring low tides, it creates a nasty closeout dumping wave, but an hour or so after that, right up till high (if you’re comfortable with it, there is a tiny landing strip at where the dune path meets the beach) you’ll find some nice walls to get a few hits in on.

There’s a massive downwind run-off area if it all goes wrong, and unless you’re trying to sail it with a bolt offshore wind, your chances of finding your way back to shore are as high as anywhere. Overall I think it’s an alright spot, but the wave lacks the shape of Gwithian further up and lacks the size of Watergate to the north, so it’s kind of a compromise on both counts. However it is a beautiful place to sail and you can usually find space to yourself, or indeed share with other riders if you want some company.

Launching

Loads of space till about two hours before spring high. Backed by dunes so more forgiving than some places if it goes wrong.

Wind

Best in South West round to West, cross off – cross on from the left.

Car Park

The car park is a shit-hole but it is privately owned and the bastards will put a ticket on your windscreen if you don’t pay and display.

Mexico's, up the beach and to the right.