Sighting

Lifting your head mid-stroke to spot course buoys and maintain direction in open water.

sightingnavigationbuoysopen waterdirection

Understanding Sighting

Sighting is the technique of lifting your head while swimming to spot course buoys, landmarks, or the finish and ensure you're swimming in a straight line. Without sighting, most swimmers veer off course — even a slight drift over 750 meters can add 50–100 meters to your swim.

The standard technique is "crocodile eyes": during your normal freestyle stroke, lift just your goggles above water (not your whole head) to glimpse the target, then immediately turn to breathe on your normal side. The less you lift, the less your hips sink and the less drag you create.

Frequency depends on conditions. In calm water with clear buoy lines, sight every 8–10 strokes. In choppy water, waves, or crowded conditions, sight every 4–6 strokes. In a large pack of swimmers, you can sometimes navigate by following the group, but check periodically that the group is actually on course.

Key Facts: Sighting

Key facts and insights about sighting that every endurance athlete should know.

Most swimmers drift 5–15% off course wit

Most swimmers drift 5–15% off course without sighting, adding significant distance

Each sighting lift adds about 0.5–1 seco

Each sighting lift adds about 0.5–1 second due to drag from raising the head

"Crocodile eyes" technique

"Crocodile eyes" technique: lift just goggles above water, not the entire head

Sight on bright, large targets

Sight on bright, large targets (buildings, trees) in addition to small buoys

Pro Tips: Sighting

Practice in the pool: swim 25m with eyes closed, then sight a target on the wall — notice how far you drifted

Sight on large landmarks behind the buoys (a building, a hill) for easier targeting

Combine sighting with breathing: lift eyes forward, then rotate head to breathe in one motion

In rough water, sight on the top of a wave when you're lifted for better visibility

Frequently Asked Questions About Sighting

Every 6–10 strokes in calm, clear conditions. Every 3–6 strokes in choppy water or when course markings are hard to see. The tradeoff is between swimming efficiency (less sighting = less drag) and navigation accuracy. When in doubt, sight more often — the time saved from a straight line beats the drag cost.

Look for larger landmarks behind the buoys: buildings, trees, distinctive shoreline features. In very rough conditions, look for other swimmers who seem to be on course. If you truly can't navigate, switch to breaststroke briefly — your head is up and you can see everything.