Vote For Your Favorite Sea Turtle in Tour de Turtles 2025 — Go Winnie! 🐢
Vote For Your Favorite Sea Turtle in Tour de Turtles 2025 — Go Winnie! 🐢
Cheer for Winnie, Sponsored by Hurricane Hanks!
It’s that exciting time of year again when sea turtles take center stage in one of the most inspiring conservation events on the planet — the Tour de Turtles! This year, we’re especially thrilled to cheer on Winnie, a beautiful sea turtle sponsored by Hurricane Hanks of Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island. After being rehabilitated and released on June 30th, Winnie has been swimming strong and making waves in this year’s race. 🏁🌊
Now, it’s time to show your support — Vote for your favorite sea turtle today through Wednesday, October 29! Whether you’re rooting for Winnie (we sure hope you are!) or one of her competitors, your vote will help determine the Tour de Turtles People’s Choice Award. Comment with your pick on social media and join the movement for marine life conservation.
How to Vote for Your Favorite Turtle 🐢
Voting is simple, fun, and helps spread awareness about sea turtle conservation. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Vote in the comments: Head to the Sea Turtle Conservancy social pages or participating partner posts and comment with your favorite turtle’s name.
- Vote on Instagram and X: You can also cast your vote by commenting on the official Tour de Turtles posts across Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
- Voting closes Wednesday, October 29 — so don’t wait to make your voice heard!
Once all the votes are tallied, the turtles placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be awarded points toward the coveted People’s Choice Award! 🎉
Here’s the full list of Tour de Turtles competitors:
- Winnie
- Miso Speedy
- Crush
- Seartina
- Moana
- Riptide
- Ariel
- Cuperina III
- Esmeralda
- Nugget
- Turt Reynolds
- Pebbles
- Rush
- Clarissa Cobblecrumb
- Honu
- Wassaw Will
- Buddy
- Haven
- Sol
- Seayonce
- Billy
- Tingum
They’re all incredible swimmers and ambassadors for ocean health — but of course, we’re partial to our girl Winnie! 🐢💚
Meet Winnie — Our Inspiring Sea Turtle Champion
Winnie’s journey began with a rescue and rehabilitation that reflects the heart of marine conservation in Southwest Florida. After her release on June 30th, she joined the Tour de Turtles race — a yearly marathon that follows satellite-tagged sea turtles as they migrate through the ocean. Each turtle represents a specific conservation cause, and every mile swum helps researchers better understand migration patterns and ocean health.
Thanks to the partnership between Hurricane Hanks and the Sea Turtle Conservancy, as well as the dedicated efforts of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW), Winnie’s progress helps scientists gather crucial data for protecting endangered sea turtles and their habitats. These partnerships represent community-driven conservation at its best — local businesses and volunteers working together for global impact.
Follow Winnie’s journey, track her movements, and cheer her on here:
👉 Track Winnie’s progress.
Why Sea Turtle Conservation Matters
Sea turtles have graced the world’s oceans for over 100 million years, long before the age of humans. Today, however, nearly every species of sea turtle faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, marine pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear. Conservation programs like the Tour de Turtles help raise awareness while gathering vital migration and behavior data that can lead to better protection strategies.
On Anna Maria Island and throughout the Gulf Coast, conservation groups such as AMITW have long worked to protect nesting beaches, monitor hatchlings, and educate the public. Every nest protected and every turtle released represents a victory for Florida’s marine ecosystem. When local restaurants like Hurricane Hanks step up to sponsor these efforts, they amplify awareness and connect the community to the cause in meaningful ways.
Hurricane Hanks: A Proud Sponsor with Heart
For those who’ve spent time on Anna Maria Island, Hurricane Hanks is more than a restaurant — it’s a cornerstone of community and coastal care. Through their sponsorship of Winnie and the ongoing support of AMITW, Hurricane Hanks continues its mission to give back to the environment and the island they call home.
This isn’t the first time they’ve sponsored a turtle in the Tour de Turtles. In fact, last year’s beloved participant, Henrietta, captured hearts and sparked a wave of community pride. Her journey symbolized hope, endurance, and the connection between humans and marine life. Winnie now carries that torch forward into 2025 — a symbol of resilience and conservation success.
By supporting these incredible creatures, Hurricane Hanks reinforces that even small actions can create big waves of change. Each sponsorship not only funds research but also brings awareness to the vital role Anna Maria Island plays in global turtle conservation.
A Legacy of Conservation on Anna Maria Island
Southwest Florida has a proud history of sea turtle conservation. Every year from May through October, beaches across the region become nesting grounds for loggerhead, green, and occasionally leatherback turtles. Volunteers, biologists, and organizations like AMITW patrol the sands, marking nests, collecting data, and ensuring that hatchlings make their way safely to the sea.
Anna Maria Island, in particular, has become a model for responsible coastal living. Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to keep beaches dark and clear of obstacles during nesting season, helping ensure that newly hatched turtles aren’t disoriented by artificial light. It’s a shared responsibility that connects residents, businesses, and visitors in one unifying purpose — to protect the natural treasures that make the Gulf Coast so special.
From Henrietta to Winnie — A Growing Tradition
Last year’s turtle, Henrietta, inspired many to follow her long migration and learn more about the challenges sea turtles face. This year, Winnie continues that legacy. Through data tracking, her movements tell stories about ocean currents, feeding grounds, and the challenges of long-distance travel — data that researchers use to advocate for safer habitats and improved conservation policies.
As part of the Tour de Turtles, each tagged turtle’s journey is more than a race — it’s a living lesson in ocean ecology. By cheering for Winnie, we’re also cheering for cleaner seas, safer nesting grounds, and a brighter future for sea turtles everywhere.
Track Winnie’s Progress
Don’t forget to keep an eye on Winnie’s race! You can follow her journey through the interactive tracking map provided by the Sea Turtle Conservancy. See where she’s headed, how far she’s traveled, and watch her compete against fellow turtles in real time. Each update is a celebration of resilience, science, and the beauty of nature.
We’re so proud to be a part of her story and to share in the excitement of the Tour de Turtles 2025. 🐢💙
Join the Community — Vote and Share!
The Tour de Turtles is more than a race; it’s a community celebration of conservation and compassion. Whether you’re local to Anna Maria Island or following from afar, you can take part in the fun. Vote for your favorite turtle today through Wednesday, October 29 by commenting on the official social media posts. Don’t forget to encourage your friends and family to vote too — every comment helps raise awareness for sea turtle conservation!
Follow along with updates, photos, and announcements on social media. You can find more turtle updates from the Hurricane Hanks team and their sister location 5350 The Pourhouse, who also share in celebrating local conservation and community support on Anna Maria Island.
How You Can Help Beyond Voting
- Respect nesting areas: Keep lights off on the beach during nesting season.
- Clean up trash: Marine debris is one of the biggest threats to turtles.
- Support local conservation groups: Volunteer or donate to organizations like AMITW or the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
- Spread awareness: Share posts and stories about Tour de Turtles and encourage others to get involved.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
As the waves roll in along the Anna Maria shoreline, each sea turtle swimming offshore carries a piece of our collective hope for a cleaner, safer, and more compassionate world. By voting for Winnie — and supporting her journey — you’re joining a movement that values every life under the sun and sea.
From everyone at Hurricane Hanks, thank you for supporting conservation, community, and the coast we love. 🐢💙
Don’t forget to cast your vote and follow Winnie’s journey:
👉 https://conserveturtles.org/turtle/winnie/
