Capitulo Perfeito Back on Yellow Alert with Promising Swells  on the Horizon

Cascais, March 9, 2026 – The 12th annual Cascais Capitulo Perfeito powered by Billabong has  returned to Yellow Alert after new forecasts pointed to solid swells approaching the Portuguese  coast in the coming days. If the conditions line up, the one-day tube-riding contest could run  between March 14 and March 20 at Carcavelos Beach, in Cascais. 

Current forecasts are calling for powerful Northwest swells with solid period and North winds —  the ideal setup for the event’s demanding format. Over the next few days, organizers will be  watching closely to confirm wind stability and swell consistency, the two main factors that will  determine whether the conditions are good enough to green-light the contest. 

Therefore, the official call could still be made within the current waiting period — which runs until  March 12 — or up to five days after, should the best conditions materialize later in the week. In that  scenario, the event could take place between March 14 and 20, with organizers keeping a constant  eye on the evolving forecast. 

“It’s been a long wait to find a truly perfect day where all the elements come together to deliver a  full day of barreling waves,” said event promotor Rui Costa. “Over the past few weeks we’ve had  to hold off almost until the very end of the waiting period to keep that possibility alive. Now we  have a new window between March 14 and 20. The call could still happen within the current  waiting period, but it looks increasingly likely that the contest day will fall just outside that window.  We’re confident this new timeframe could finally deliver the right setup, and we’re hoping Mother  Nature comes through.” 

True to its DNA, Capitulo Perfeito only runs when the conditions are right, waiting patiently for the  moment when Carcavelos delivers a full day of perfect barrels. In recent weeks several swells have  hit the Portuguese coast, but none delivered the ideal combination of swell direction, power, and  wind alignment needed to produce consistent barrels throughout the day. The event requires a  minimum of eight consecutive hours of world-class conditions, a crucial requirement for its single day competition format and to ensure equal opportunity for every surfer in the lineup.

Surfers on standby 

The 2026 lineup features 16 top tube riders from around the world, all currently on standby and  ready to travel to Portugal with just 72 hours’ notice if the official call is made.

International invitees include Balaram Stack, Bruno Santos, Joel Parkinson, Noah Beschen, Rob  Machado, Soli Bailey, Torrey Meister, and Tosh Tudor. Joining them is Anne dos Santos, the first  international female surfer to compete directly in the main event of Capitulo Perfeito. 

Portugal will be represented by João Maria Mendonça, Miguel Blanco, and Nic von Rupp. They  will be joined by Cam Richards, winner of the 2025 edition, Tomás Valente, winner of the  Carcavelos Trials, and Pedro Boonman, who secured his place through the online fan vote. 

The final spot on the competition roster will go to the Performance Wildcard, whose name will be  revealed 48 hours before the contest, keeping the event’s tradition of suspense around the last invite  alive. 

Alongside the main competition, the Special Women Heat will also return, featuring Camila  Cardoso, Gabriela Dinis, Mafalda Lopes, and Maria Salgado, reinforcing the event’s commitment to  women’s barrel riding in heavy beachbreak waves. 

With the event now under Yellow Alert, organizers will continue to monitor forecasts closely before  issuing the official call for the championship.