Quicksilver Reef Swim on Green Island – Report and Video – Cairns Adventure Festival

The Cairns Airport Adventure Festival continued yesterday with the Quicksilver Reef Swim on Green Island.

Over 200 participants boarded the ferry and headed to one of Australia’s most stunning locations, The Great Barrier Reef to take part in the 1.5km or 3km Ocean swims this morning.

With 24 degree crystal clear waters, it’s no wonder participants flocked from all over Australia and around the globe, including Germany, New Zealand and Singapore.

The swim was won by Pete Jacobs and Kirsten Molloy.

Luke and Yolanda Mace made their journey from Singapore, attracted by the inaugural Challenge Cairns weekend of events.

“We like doing inaugural races “there’s just something about them,” Luke said.

General Manager of Green Island Resort, Sue O’Donnell, said it’s the only coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef with rainforest on it.

“You will witness a changing environment from the sand, to the overhanging rainforest trees, it’s just beautiful,” said Miss O’Donnell.

Australian Ironman champion Pete Jacobs took line honours in the 3km swim, posting an impressive 48min to cover the course.Jacobs was pressed hard from the get-go, as a pack of four formed within the first 100m, including second placed Mathew Pegg, and Edwy Bunt third.

“Bit of competition out there, I had to sprint the last 3 laps because I’m carrying an injury (foot stress fracture) so I had to get a lead before the finish,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs took part in the swim today as a substitute for being unable to compete in the inaugural Challenge Cairns on Sunday.

“Originally I was going to do the full iron distance, but due to my injury I cannot run,” added Jacobs.

Hot on the boys heals was Kirsten Molloy of Valentine, having a hit out before her Challenge Cairns race on Sunday taking out the women’s race.

“I joked that I was going to go out hard with Pete Jacobs, but he was playing with us on the first lap; there were four of us together before being split up on lap 3 “got a bit crazy” said Molloy.