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Praia de Carcavelos is gearing up to host the 12th edition of Cascais Capítulo Perfeito, following the organisation's confirmation of the official reopening of its waiting window between 1 November and 15 December. The move follows a run of storms and unfavourable swell at the start of 2026, which thwarted the hollow barrel conditions demanded for this one-day contest.
True to its founding motto of holding out for the day with flawless waves, organisers chose to push the event back to the final stretch of the year. The event sticks to its signature format: running in a single day, calling competitors up on just 72 hours notice once marine and weather forecasts guarantee peak tides for surfing.
“This is a unique event, defined by the sea’s unpredictability and an unyielding commitment to perfection. We remain determined to wait for that perfect day, which we believe will arrive between November and December. Last year, this was a great window for quality waves and barrels, so we are confident that we will once again find an opportunity to run the contest in the conditions we are chasing,” says event organiser Rui Costa in a statement.
Who's on the line-up?
The roster brings together 16 surfers. Confirmed international names include Balaram Stack, Bruno Santos, Noah Beschen, Rob Machado, Soli Bailey, Torrey Meister, Tosh Tudor, and veteran Australian former WSL world tour champion Joel Parkinson. Leading the charge for Portugal are seasoned staples such as Nic von Rupp, Miguel Blanco, and João Maria Mendonça, alongside Pedro Boonman (secured via the public vote) and Tomás Valente (winner of the qualifying trials). Defending his title from the last edition is American Cam Richards, while the women's side makes history with Brazil's Anne dos Santos becoming the first female surfer to join the main international guest list.
The final slot belongs to the coveted Wildcard Performance invitation, handed out by organisers on the eve of the clash and reserved for a surprise international talent. Alongside the main draw, the programme will feature the customary Women Special Heat, contested by Camila Cardoso, Gabriela Dinis, Mafalda Lopes, and Maria Salgado.
The 12th edition of Capítulo Perfeito rolls out a brand-new competitive format guaranteeing at least three heats (a timed face-off where a set group of surfers hits the water simultaneously to battle for a spot in the next round) for each of the 16 athletes, blunting the impact of tidal shifts. There are no eliminations across the opening two rounds: the top eight head straight through to round four, while the remaining surfers enter a repechage round sending four more through. In both the repechage and round four, athletes carry over their best single-wave score from round two, adding it to their top two waves from the active heat. The final four will clash for the crown and, as an added bonus, all earn direct entry into the 2027 edition.
The reopening of the Cascais window comes months after the contest ventured overseas. On 9 September, organisers took the concept to Desert Point on Lombok island, Indonesia, hosting the first international championship on the legendary wave.
Praia de Carcavelos (Carcavelos)