Open Water Swimming: How to Sight Correctly and Swim Straight

Open Water Swimming: How to Sight Correctly and Swim Straight#

Open water swimming — whether in a triathlon, an open water race, or a training swim — presents a challenge that pool swimming does not: there are no lane ropes to keep you straight. Without correct sighting technique, swimmers can veer significantly off course, adding hundreds of metres to their race distance and wasting enormous amounts of energy.

The difference between a swimmer who sights efficiently and one who does not is not just navigation — it is also speed. Poor sighting technique disrupts the stroke rhythm, causes the hips to drop, and slows the swimmer down significantly. Good sighting technique is nearly invisible — it adds almost no time to the stroke cycle.

Why Swimmers Swim Off Course#

In the absence of visual reference points, most swimmers do not swim straight. Studies have shown that the average swimmer deviates 10-30 degrees from a straight line without sighting, due to asymmetries in stroke power, kick strength, and body rotation.

The solution is regular, efficient sighting — lifting the eyes above the water surface to check the course direction, then returning to the normal swimming position without disrupting the stroke.

The Crocodile Sight: The Most Efficient Technique#

The most efficient sighting technique is called the crocodile sight (also called the Tarzan sight). The technique:

1. As the leading arm extends forward in the catch position, lift the head so the eyes are just above the water surface — like a crocodile's eyes. The chin should remain in the water; only the eyes and forehead rise above the surface.
2. Identify the target (a buoy, a landmark, a building on the shore) in the 0.5-1 second that the eyes are above the surface.
3. Lower the head back into the normal swimming position and take a breath on the next stroke (to the side, as normal).

The key is that the head lift is minimal — just enough to see the target. A large head lift causes the hips to drop significantly, which creates drag and slows the swimmer.

How Often to Sight#

The optimal sighting frequency depends on the conditions and the swimmer's ability to swim straight:

• Calm, clear conditions: Every 6-10 strokes.
• Choppy conditions: Every 4-6 strokes (because the target is harder to see and the swimmer is more likely to be pushed off course by waves).
• Crowded race conditions: Every 4-6 strokes (because other swimmers can push you off course).

Sighting too frequently wastes energy. Sighting too infrequently means you may be off course before you correct. The 6-10 stroke range is a good starting point for most swimmers.

Integrating Sighting with Breathing#

The most common mistake in open water sighting is treating the sight and the breath as separate actions — lifting the head to sight, then turning the head to breathe. This double movement disrupts the stroke rhythm significantly.

The correct technique is to integrate the sight with the breath:

1. Lift the head slightly (crocodile sight) as the leading arm extends.
2. As the leading arm pulls back and the body rotates to breathe, take the breath on the same stroke.
3. The head returns to the normal position.

This means the sight and the breath happen in the same stroke cycle, not in two separate cycles. It takes practice to coordinate, but once established, it adds almost no time to the stroke cycle.

Dealing with Sun Glare and Choppy Water#

Sun glare: If the sun is directly in front of you (common in morning races), the target may be difficult to see. In this case, sight off a secondary target — a building, a tree, or a landmark that is not directly in the sun's glare. Alternatively, use the position of other swimmers as a guide.

Choppy water: In choppy conditions, the target may only be visible for a fraction of a second between waves. Sight more frequently (every 4-6 strokes) and be prepared to take multiple sights before confirming your direction.

Drills for Open Water Sighting#

Drill 1: The Pool Sighting Drill In a pool, place a target (a cone, a bottle) at the far end of the lane. Swim freestyle and practice the crocodile sight every 8 strokes. Focus on the minimal head lift and the integration with the breath.

Drill 2: The Open Water Practice Swim In open water, swim between two fixed points (buoys, landmarks) and count how many strokes it takes to swim a straight line. Compare this to the theoretical straight-line distance. A large discrepancy indicates poor sighting or a stroke asymmetry.

Drill 3: Video Analysis Have a partner video your sighting from the pool deck. Check: Is the head lift minimal (eyes just above the surface)? Are the hips dropping when you sight? Is the sight integrated with the breath?

Key Takeaways#

• Use the crocodile sight — lift only the eyes above the water surface, not the entire head.
• Sight every 6-10 strokes in calm conditions; every 4-6 strokes in choppy or crowded conditions.
• Integrate the sight with the breath — they should happen in the same stroke cycle, not separately.
• A large head lift causes the hips to drop and significantly slows the swimmer.
• In sun glare, sight off a secondary target rather than directly into the sun.