Transitioning from pool swimming to open water can be a disorientating experience. Our level of confidence drops the moment we hit that endless body of water, and everything we knew and practised before becomes questionable. We were used to following a black line and swimming between lane ropes, and we were 100% sure that the distance was accurate.
Unfortunately that’s not applicable in open water, not only because of the lack of guardrails, but also because current, waves and other factors change our trajectory in real time. I like to think that the race winner is not necessarily the fastest swimmer but the one who swims the shortest distance. And here is where orientation and sighting comes into play.
Recommended approach:
- Adjust your sighting frequency according to water conditions. Choppy waters or strong currents will make you drift faster than expected.
- As a general rule, you can sight on average every 6 strokes. Sighting frequently will not demand more energy if done efficiently and in a relaxed way.
- Never breathe on your front while lifting your head, keep a crocodile position and your mouth under water. The lesser you lift your head, the lesser your legs will sink.
- Slightly increase your kick while your head is up to keep propulsion and your legs from sinking.
- If you don’t see your objective at the first sight, don’t stay upright or do water polo strokes. Rather get your head down and repeat the movement consecutive times until you see what you were expecting (a buoy, landmark or a group of swimmers).
- Sometimes we have a tendency to swim towards the left or right instead of a straight line (e.g. the side you breathe). Apply small corrections of trajectory when your head is down to compensate for the drifting.
- If you are following a group and thus reducing your frequency of sighting, make sure they won’t take you in the wrong direction!
Synch your stroke with the sighting
Objective:
Coordinate your stroke in a way you sight always at the right time.
How to Do It:
- Stand on the shallow section of a pool. Water surface should be around your hips.
- Bend forward and ‘swim’ in a stationary position (only your stroke).
- If you breathe to your right, the moment your right hand enters into the water, lift your head and look forward.
- Glide a bit by leading with the front hand until you see your objective.
- Get your head down (you can immediately breath to your right after) and keep on ‘swimming’ while standing up.
- Same applies in case you breathe to your left.
Practice your orientation
How to Do It:
- Start by identifying the starting and end point of your swim, possibly a segment which is a straight line
- Start swimming with your eyes shut (no cheating!)
- Swim for about 20 strokes and stop
- Look around and see if you were drifting and towards which side
- Repeat again (always with your eyes shut). This time by directing your stroke towards the opposite side (correction)
- Stop, open your eyes and check again your location
- Repeat until you find the right correction factor
- Practise in different water conditions. Swell and currents will take you in different directions and at different speeds
- If you want to add some fun, do this as a group and see where everybody is ending up by swimming with their eyes shut!
Find your frequency
Objective:
Practise the sighting technique in the sea using different frequencies to find the one that works best for you
How to Do It:
- Start by identifying the starting and end point of your swim, possibly a segment which is a straight line.
- Start swimming towards the end point and stop after 20 strokes (no sighting).
- In case you drifted, correct the direction and keep on swimming.
- Sight every 10 strokes (3 times) and stop.
- If you were drifting again, reduce the frequency to 8.
- Repeat and play with different frequencies until you find the one where you no longer drift.
