Sea Turtle “Esther” Enters Annual Migration Event from Anna Maria Island

Posted: June 20, 2022

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Island conservation partners Waterline Villas & Marina and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch sponsor female Loggerhead in Annual Tour de Turtles

BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. (June 20, 2022) – Earlier today, a crowd of locals and vacationers joined staff and volunteers from Waterline Villas & Marina, Mainsail Vacation Rentals, and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW) to watch the release of a nesting female loggerhead sea turtle named Esther from Anna Maria Island, where she successfully laid her eggs. As island conservation partners, Waterline, Mainsail Vacation Rentals and AMITW sponsored Esther in the 15th Annual Tour de Turtles, a yearly “marathon” event created by the Sea Turtle Conservancy to track the migration of sea turtles released from beaches in Costa Rica, Panama, Nevis, Anna Maria Island and other parts of Florida. Esther is named after competitive swimmer and movie star Esther Williams, who starred in the 1948 romantic comedy “On an Island with You,” which was filmed on Anna Maria Island.

Esther and the other Tour de Turtles competitors will be tracked for three months using satellite telemetry to record their location and distance traveled. The data will be uploaded to interactive maps on the Tour de Turtles website. The turtle that travels the greatest distance over the three-month period will be announced as the winner of this year’s marathon.

“We’re honored to be a part of such a fun and educational event and wish Esther a safe journey,” said Lacey Lloyd-Jones, area general manager for Waterline Villas & Marina and Mainsail Vacation Rentals. “As the official community sponsor of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, we’re actively supporting Executive Director Suzi Fox and her team with continuing education and special guest programs for our guests.

Through their partnership with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Villas & Marina and Mainsail Vacation Rentals is committed to advancing the mission of a suitable habitat for sea turtles, shorebirds and the ecosystem of the island and its surrounding waters.

“We are excited to return to Anna Maria Island for a fifth time to track a loggerhead turtle from the Gulf Coast. Esther is the first of our hard-shell turtle competitors to be released this summer and we look forward to seeing if she follows the path of previous turtles from Anna Maria Island or charts her own course.” Dr. Daniel Evans, Sea Turtle Conservancy Biologist.

For more information or to make reservations, visit Waterline Villas & Marina at WaterlineResort.com or call (844) 863-9443. You can also connect with Waterline and follow Esther’s journey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To book your beachfront vacation rental on Anna Maria Island, contact Mainsail Vacation Rentals at MainsailVR.com, via Facebook, or by calling (866) 724-5287.

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About Waterline Villas & Marina
A member of the prestigious Autograph Collection® of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), Waterline Villas & Marina is the only full-service resort on Anna Maria Island, Florida. Opened in 2017, the boutique waterfront hotel offers exclusive amenities, distinctive services and numerous opportunities for guests to enjoy the authentic, laidback, beach town vibe of Anna Maria Island. The resort features 37 stylish two-bedroom villa-condos with gourmet kitchens; a 50-slip marina offering a variety of water activities; the French-inspired signature restaurant, Chateau Anna Maria; and a resort-style swimming pool with oversized sun deck extending into the marina. Through a partnership with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring, the resort supports efforts to maintain a suitable habitat for sea turtles, shorebirds and the island ecosystem through special guest programs, promotions and messaging. WaterlineResort.com

Mainsail Vacation Rentals
Mainsail Vacation Rentals manages a collection of private vacation homes in Florida and the Caribbean. Primarily focused on Anna Maria Island, Florida, Mainsail Vacation Rentals provides a curated portfolio of homes that complements the quality, aesthetics and service values of Mainsail Lodging & Development. Properties range from beautifully appointed beachfront condominiums at Mainsail Beach Inn to eclectic and mod escapes at Mello on the Beach. Guests have access to 24/7 support and the option of an in-person welcome check-in experience. Homeowners receive peace of mind knowing an experienced operator will create and manage their listing, drive revenue, and provide a reservations office, while completely handling the bookings, guest support, housekeeping and maintenance. Learn more at MainsailVR.com.

About Mainsail Lodging & Development
Mainsail Lodging & Development is an award-winning, Tampa, Florida-based company specializing in hotel, furnished housing, and resort property management and development, marketing and sales. An established company with a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, Mainsail prides itself in finding unique lodging opportunities with a purpose and applying its passion and expertise to each project. Founded by President Joe Collier with a combination of daring vision and dogged determination, Mainsail has built an impressive portfolio of top-branded properties throughout the southeastern United States and Caribbean. Each Mainsail property inspires guests with a distinct character and meticulously crafted, sophisticated style, from a private island resort, and urban culinary showplaces, to waterfront marvels, boutique southern hotels, and a historic jazz era icon. Stay Sojo, Mainsail’s newest brand, provides short-term furnished living options across the country, while Mainsail Vacation Rentals manages a collection of private vacation homes in Florida and the Caribbean. To ensure long-term success and profitability, Mainsail relies on the dedication of its high-performing leadership team, a growing group of enterprising investors, and a commitment to giving back, every step of the way. MainsailHotels.com 

About Anna Maria Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring
AMITW & Shorebird Monitoring is a grassroots organization supported financially by Manatee County and the more than 90 volunteers who work tirelessly for sea turtle conservation. For over 30 years, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch has coordinated conservation efforts for 12 miles of Manatee County shoreline.  In three decades, AMITW has monitored 7,339 turtle activities, protected 4,454 nests, 301,694 turtle eggs, and watched 271,680 hatchlings depart to become a future generation of loggerheads that will return to the region as they reach maturity — in about 30 years. For more information about AMITW, contact Suzi Fox at (941) 778- 5638 or email at [email protected].