Circuito Netuno de Travessias 2026 — Etapa 1 (São Vicente)

Salt spray stings the eyes as you navigate the outer reaches of the bay, where the dense, verdant canopy of the Atlantic Forest clings to the southern coastline. This green wall offers a sharp contrast to the rhythmic mechanical hum of the 1914 suspension bridge, an engineering landmark that marks your progress toward the inner channel. Below the surface, the water depth shifts with the tide, reflecting the intense sand dynamics of Praia do Itararé, where the shoreline can recede by over a hundred meters depending on the lunar cycle.

Historical currents and landmarks

Navigating these waters brings you near the Biquinha de Anchieta, a historic fountain whose fresh water flow once served as a vital resource for early Jesuit settlers. The area remains steeped in colonial history, echoing the 1583 naval engagement where Spanish and English forces clashed, a reminder of the maritime significance this bay has held for centuries. As you push forward, the silhouette of the Morro do Voturuá rises 180 meters, providing a constant navigational reference point against the sky. Swimmers participating in the Circuito Netuno de Travessias 2026 — Etapa 1 face a dynamic environment that requires precise sighting, especially when the current pulls toward the channel.

Race day and local context

Scheduled for February 1, 2026, this opening stage offers distances of 750m, 1500m, and 3000m, challenging participants to master the bay's variable conditions. While early season conditions remain generally accessible, the logistical precision of the YPS Promoções e Eventos team ensures safety through dedicated support craft. Competitors often contrast this course with the different tidal demands found in the nearby Port of Santos crossing, which takes place just a day earlier. The event emphasizes self-reliance, with the first major hurdle being the physical endurance required to manage the expansive, shifting sandy bottom of the Itararé stretch. Each stroke across this historic basin connects the athlete to the site of the first permanent Portuguese settlement in the Americas, turning a standard open water event into a navigation through Brazil's foundational landscape.