Size paid off on Thursday for Stephanie Colburtle. Yesterday, on Day Four of The Great Turtle Race, the 5’5 turtle - the biggest of the bunch - darted past Billie and is now giving leader Windy a verified swim for her money.

In third place, Billie continues to use her popularity at sea to her benefit. Billie was seen Thursday drafting behind a school of billfish. With her buddies breaking the wake, Billie is taking advantage of a swift ride.

Seventh place Saphira also had a strong swim on Day Four, as she sped up to separate herself from the back of the pack. Turtle analysts say Saphira’s deliberate race strategy could be the key to her success. Saphira stayed on the beach for nearly two hours making a nest for her eggs before crossing the start line, and seems to have calculated that now is the time to come from behind and make her move.

The only two rookies in the race, meantime, are having trouble navigating the course. Both Purple Lightning and Turtleocity struggled to fix their internal compasses Thursday as they headed towards Colombia instead of the Galapagos. Unlike humans, sea turtles use the Earth’s magnetic field to help them determine where they are.

Media darling Drexelina is still not a contender as she lags behind with Sundae. Some speculate that there’s something captivating the attention of these two along the shore - something far more important than the race. Others venture that having laid 783 eggs this season, Sundae, this year’s most fertile turtle, is downright exhausted. Scientists say the both turtles look nice and healthy. The race organizers expect to hold a press conference about the girls tomorrow morning.

This morning, scientists announced that Drexelina and Sundae have been so appalled by development along the coast that they’re patrolling the beaches instead of competing in The Great Turtle Race. Sea turtles’ nesting grounds are often destroyed by construction of hotels, restaurants and houses along the shoreline. Not if it’s up to Sheriff Sundae and Deputy Drexelina!

Back out at sea, drama was the name of the game on Day Five of the competition. In a disappointing swim, Windy sunk in the ranks, allowing Billie to capture the lead, Stephanie to hold onto second, and come-from-behind Saphira to tear into third.

“On the bright side, she didn’t get plucked out of the sea by a fisherman, chomped by a great white shark, or choke on a plastic bag,” said Windy’s coach. “It could have been worse.”

In the middle of the pack, Genevieve and Champiro had strong swims Friday, and many fans spent the day praising Champiro for her steady determination and constant improvement. Since debuting on the nesting circuit seven years ago, Champiro has grown longer and wider with each season. Having made eight nests in 2001, Champiro has now boosted that number to 12 in the 2006-2007 season.

Freedom, who has laid more than 1,500 eggs in the past 12 years, moved up from eighth to seventh place on Day Five. And erratic newcomer Purple Lightning, who remains in ninth, had the fastest split of the day as she moved through the ocean at an average speed of two miles per hour.

For the first time in The Great Turtle Race, Ms. Stephanie Colburtle finished the day in the lead. Stephanie has been a top contender throughout the week, but stepped up her performance on Saturday to glide past Billie into first place.

Billie - whose trademark flipper notches indicate she’s accustomed to others nipping at her heels - refused to give in without a fight. Though she momentarily gave her fans a scare by darting off course on Day Six, Billie has the willpower to remain a serious competitor.

Farther back on the course on Saturday, Genevieve temporarily stole the limelight from Stephanie, as she dove to 406 feet and held her breath for a staggering 36.5 minutes. Genevieve may not be the fastest swimmer of the group, but yesterday’s dive put her within reach of a world record for the time she spent underwater. Some researchers say a 30-minute dive is off the charts; others suspect some leatherbacks at sea may have the ability to hold their breath for close to an hour.

Saphira, Freedom, Genevieve and Champiro are going shell to shell in the mid-field, while young Turtleocity and Purple Lightning continue to explore the sea.

As for Drexelina and Sundae? They’re receiving fan mail from well-wishers worldwide for their valiant efforts to protect the coast.

It could all come down to who has the spiniest throat. As eleven sea turtles complete the first half of The Great Turtle Race, their ability to find food that will keep them energized is more crucial than ever. The spinier a leatherback’s throat, the more difficult it is for her favorite food - jellyfish - to slither away.

At the end of the day Sunday, first place was too close to call. That’s because leaders Billie and Stephanie Colburtle are doing an excellent job of keeping their energy levels high. Staying close to the surface for quick access to air to keep those muscles going, neither Billie nor Stephanie took a dive on Day Seven.

Saphira’s strategy continued to pay off as she propelled herself into third place. On the other hand, it became more apparent on Sunday that Windy may have started too fast to maintain her speed.

Turtleocity rediscovered her internal compass on Sunday, gliding into fourth. Freedom, Champiro, Genevieve and Purple Lightning are holding on strong, while Drexelina and Sundae remain on beach patrol.

To keep up with the race action, visit http://www.greatturtlerace.com/, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, check out the Sea Turtle School page to find blogs, links, publications, and other resources on sea turtle conservation.

Beak to beak and barreling towards the finish line, Stephanie Colburtle and Billie completed Day Eight of The Great Turtle Race at the front of the pack.

The girls led the charge of competitors as they hurtled over Cocos Ridge, the underwater mountain chain stretching southwest to northeast between the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica.

Propelling forward with their front limbs and steering with their back ones, the distance swimmers headed for the finish. Turtleocity stuck close to Purple Lightning, drafting her newfound friend. Maybe the amigas are diving together, too. Genevieve and Freedom, meantime, refused to back down, perhaps waiting for their big break.

To keep up with the race action, visit The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, check out the Sea Turtle School page to find educational activities, blogs, publications, and other resources on sea turtle conservation.

Remarkable dives stole the show Tuesday during Day Nine of The Great Turtle Race.

Though far behind her competitors, Deputy Drexelina set an impressive record of her own. The Hollywood starlet dove to a shocking 2,264 feet on Tuesday - nearly half a mile! A race psychologist says Drexelina may have needed a quick break from the attention she’s gathered in this competition and sought refuge underwater where there’s no light, cameras, or action.

Genevieve likewise impressed fans with a 1,738-foot dive - another plunge far deeper than any seen on previous race days.

Far closer to the finish line, Billie regained the lead Tuesday with an impressive swim. Billie now appears less than ten miles from winning the race. Stephanie Colburtle looks strong in second place, and Saphira holds a steady third.

To keep up with the race action and to cheer on the turtles, visit The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes.

Also, please consider offering your support to The Leatherback Trust, co-organizer of The Great Turtle Race and non-profit organization committed to protecting leatherback turtles and their nesting habitat at Playa Grande It's easy and secure! Click here to make a donation.

Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner!

Billie - cheered on by billfish and friends throughout the sea - finished The Great Turtle Race in first place around 6:00 a.m. PST on Thursday. She may not have been the longest or widest turtle of the bunch, but Billie swam a flawless race!

“We’re overjoyed that Billie has won the race - even in the face of aggressive challenges from Stephanie Colburtle the Turtle,” said Paxson Offield of the Offield Center for Billfish Studies, Billie’s proud sponsor in the Great Turtle Race. “She is a hero to turtles, billfish, and the many other marine animals that are threatened and ‘going faster than you think.’ Way to go, Billie, and congratulations to all of the other racers!"

But the race isn't over yet...Stephanie Colburtle now looks certain for second place far southeast of the winner’s course. George Shillinger, a sea turtle expert who tagged the girls at Playa Grande, explained how the competitors find their way to the finish zone.

“The ocean is like a pinball machine,” said Shillinger, who works for Tagging of Pacific Predators. “The turtles shoot out of the starting gate at the nesting beach and appear to be moving in a directed fashion, but they are also subject to ocean currents and other environmental factors which can sling them in different directions. That’s why we have a ‘finish zone’ for the race and not a simple ‘finish line.’”

Elsewhere on the course, Turtleocity took the prize as this year’s deep dive champion on Wednesday when she plunged to an unprecedented 2,789 feet. Despite their occasional underwater stunts, turtles in this year’s race are actually staying closer to the surface than they have in previous competitions. Scientists say that’s because this is the first year since they starting tagging turtles at Playa Grande that La Niña weather patterns have been apparent in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. La Niña conditions can make shallow water colder than usual and churn up lots of good food closer to the ocean’s surface.

In other news, Turtleocity’s pal Purple Lightning also impressed crowds on Wednesday, swimming with gusto into the No. 4 spot. Champiro likewise had a strong swim on Day Ten as she wowed fans with her highly-anticipated sense of direction. Champiro has positioned herself well for an open, straight shot to the finish zone.

Freedom and Genevieve, meantime, swam with the same power and consistency on Wednesday that they have demonstrated throughout The Great Turtle Race. Both turtles have forged a fairly straight path for the Galapagos since leaving Playa Grande.

For more information, visit The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. Also, on the Great Turtle Race website, visit the “How Can I Help?” page to learn more about how our everyday actions affect sea turtles and other ocean wildlife.

Also, please consider offering your support to The Leatherback Trust, co-organizer of The Great Turtle Race and non-profit organization committed to protecting leatherback turtles and their nesting habitat at Playa Grande It's easy and secure! Click here to make a donation.

Stephanie Colburtle Takes Second Place!

This just in: Stephanie Colburtle has held off come-from-behind Champiro just long enough to take second place in The Great Turtle Race!

Stephanie propelled into the finish zone to thunderous applause around 7:30 a.m. PST this morning. To the crowd’s delight, Champiro finished in third place one mere mile behind her, a few short hours later.

Champiro stunned fans Thursday as she tapped into her reserve, propelling herself forward with a strength no one had seen from her yet this year. She did so just as Saphira ran out of energy, knocking herself out of contention for a medal.

Now analysts are keeping a close eye on Turtleocity. Turtleocity’s recent dive record has apparently brought her a taste for fame and supplied her with a newfound energy. That means spectators should also keep track of Turtleocity’s sidekick, Purple Lightning; these two stick together!

Rooting for the others? Cheer a little louder and Windy, Genevieve, Freedom, Sundae and Drexelina just might hear you! Show the turtles your support by visiting The Great Turtle Race, where turtle movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, visit the “How Can I Help?” page to learn more about how our everyday actions affect sea turtles and other ocean wildlife.

Remember, if you’d like to offer a donation to help save the leatherbacks, take a look at the “How Can I Help?” page of www.greatturtlerace.com. There you will also learn how your daily actions can help or hinder sea turtles and other ocean wildlife. Simple actions such as making more careful seafood choices and eliminating plastic bag use mean a lot to the turtles!

After Stephanie Colburtle's and Champiro's close finish on Friday morning, congratulations now go to rookies Turtleocity and Purple Lightning! The girls finished The Great Turtle Race on Friday afternoon with impressive fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively. Experts are certain these two young ladies have what it takes to remain in the race for years to come.

On Friday night, Saphira and Genevieve had not yet completed the race, but were swimming beak to beak toward the zone. Race experts are stunned that after 500 miles, two sea turtles might just finish this race in a tie!

Freedom isn’t far behind. As for Windy, some speculate that she’s made a pit stop in a patch of jellyfish. Windy’s odd, zig-zagging behavior has puzzled some scientists, but they are eager to learn more from turtles like her. Studying turtle behavior helps scientists understand what waters need to be protected and what actions people can take to keep them healthy.

Remember: The race isn’t over yet! Show your friends still out on the course your support by visiting www.greatturtlerace.com, where the turtles' movements are updated every 10 minutes. While you're there, visit the “How Can I Help?” page to learn more about how your daily actions can help or hinder sea turtles and other ocean wildlife. Simple actions such as making more careful seafood choices and eliminating plastic bag use mean a lot to the turtles! You can also offer a donation on the website to help protect the leatherbacks' nesting beach at Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

In a near photo finish, two more dedicated sea turtles finished The Great Turtle Race on Day Thirteen of the competition! Genevieve swam into the finish zone in sixth place, followed directly behind by seventh-place Saphira. Race referees looked at their turtle tracker several times before posting the nail-biting results!

Analysts are now confident that Freedom and Windy will swim into the finish zone on Day Fourteen. Sundae and Drexelina may not get there this year, but spectators remain proud of the work they’re doing on the coast. Scientists analyzing the race have expressed their confidence that these two ladies will begin their migration soon.

As the race nears its end, organizers say they are extremely grateful that this year’s competitors stayed as safe and healthy as they did.

Staying strong and not getting sick is not always easy in the open ocean. Turtles often confront pollution and waste - like chemicals, trash, plastic bags, and left-behind fishing gear - along their journeys. Organizers reminded fans Saturday to do everything they can to protect the oceans for competitors in years to come.

In the meantime, keep cheering for Freedom and Windy and watch as they cross into the finish zone at www.greatturtlerace.com. While you're there, visit the “How Can I Help?” page to learn more about how your daily actions can help or hinder sea turtles and other ocean creatures. For instance, when you make careful, turtle-friendly seafood choices or when you use your own canvas bag or backpack at the grocery store instead of plastic bags, it helps! You can also offer a donation on the website to help protect the leatherbacks' nesting beach at Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

What a fantastic competition!

On the final day of The Great Turtle Race, Freedom streaked across the finish to take eighth place. Windy landed in the No. 9 spot. And although Deputy Drexelina and Sheriff Sundae postponed their swim, fans showered them with applause Sunday night for safeguarding the shore!

So what’s next for the lovely ladies? In the months ahead, all of our favorite turtles will migrate south through the waters of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Along the way, it’s very possible they’ll dodge threats like longlines from fishing boats, gillnets, and pollution floating in the ocean. For instance, plastic bags in the water that look deceivingly like jellyfish are cause for serious concern.

To help the sea turtles overcome those obstacles, visit “How Can I Help?” at www.greatturtlerace.com. One simple way to keep cheering them on is to use your own canvas bag or backpack at the grocery store instead of plastic bags - it really helps!

As for future races? It's possible that the racecourse of ladies swimming to the Galapagos could get more crowded due to climate change, because higher temperatures tend to produce more females than males. All of those threats combined means sea turtles need all the friends they can get.

To keep rooting for your turtles, you can donate on The Great Turtle Race website to help protect the leatherbacks’ nesting beach at Playa Grande. You can also learn more about how to keep their environments safe through the race organizers: Tagging of Pacific Predators, The Leatherback Trust, and Conservation International.

With the excitement of The Great Turtle Race behind us, you’re probably wondering, “What are the turtles up to now?"

Seven of the eleven turtles - Genevieve, Sundae, Turtleocity, Freedom, Purple Lightning, Billie, and Saphira - are well on their way to their feeding grounds off Peru and Chile. Unfortunately, two turtles, Stephanie Colburtle and Drexelina, haven't transmitted any information on their locations for over 100 days. We are also concerned about two other race contenders, Windy and Champiro, who haven't been heard from in a while. Leatherback turtles face many threats on their ocean journeys. Below are some possible explanations for the silence from Stephanie and her fellow racers:

Did they die of old age?
“It’s not likely that Stephanie died of old age,” says Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) researcher Jim Spotila, a turtle researcher who has been monitoring leatherbacks at Playa Grande, Costa Rica, for decades. Though it is difficult to tell a turtle's exact age, scientists did not consider any of the racing turtles old, based on their nesting histories on Playa Grande.

Did the leatherbacks’ harnesses fall off or were their satellite tags broken?
If seaweed, slimy algae, or barnacles have covered the tag, information on the location of the turtle cannot be transmitted. “We've had tags go offline for as much as six months until the turtle moved to colder latitudes where the hitch-hiking critters presumably died and allowed the tag to restart,” notes TOPP researcher Scott Eckert. Also, the tags are attached to the turtles with specially designed harnesses. The harness can fall off if the turtle gets entangled in a fishing line or encounters an aggressive male turtle. Sometimes, missing turtles have been known to reappear on nesting beaches without their tag.

Did commercial fishermen or shark-finners working off the Galapagos or Peru accidentally kill Stephanie, Windy, Drexelina, and Champiro?
It’s possible that the turtles were caught by commercial fishermen. Though fishing policies are in place to protect the turtles in certain areas, illegal fishing does occur. Also, fishing by-catch in many areas, especially in the waters off Peru, is still unmonitored, so we don't truly know how many turtles or other ocean creatures are incidentally caught in fishing gear.

Did they eat too many plastic bags that looked like jellyfish?
Leatherback turtles can mistake plastic bags floating in the water as their favorite food, jellyfish. Ingesting plastic can weaken or even kill them. Because they are then unable to digest their real food, they can starve, or they may choke on the plastic and drown. Reducing your plastic bag use is one simple way you can take action in your daily life to improve life for leatherback turtles. Take action today to reduce your plastic bag use and sign CI's Plastic Bag Pledge now!

It's difficult to track the mysterious lives of leatherback turtles. We can only speculate on what may have happened to Stephanie, Windy, Drexelina, and Champiro, but given all the things that could go wrong, we feel lucky that we’re still hearing from seven of the eleven Great Turtle Race leatherbacks.

As a part of the global conservation community, you have a chance to make a real difference in the future of our planet. I hope you’ll take action today by taking the Plastic Bag Pledge to help secure a future for leatherback sea turtles.

Sincerely,
Vinnie Wishrad Signature
Vinnie Wishrad
Director, Online Community and Membership
Conservation International

P.S. Please help us spread the word about the threats that plastic bags pose to sea turtles by telling a friend today. Even simple, everyday actions like reducing plastic bag use can have a huge global impact.