Sighting

Here is a great article about sighting from Max Performance:

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Endless laps in the pool following painted lane lines can be a tough habit to break when race season is upon us.  Many cold weather climates yield swimming lap after lap in the pool with no open water practice.  Keeping this in mind, we’ve outlined a few strategies to highlight the importance in sighting both in the pool and in open water.
Types of Sighting

• Forward sighting:  pick your head slightly out of the water to see your landmark.  This is typically timed with hand entry and your next breath would be on your next cycle.

• Side sighting:  as you take a breath to one side, lift your head up slightly out of the water, and then view your target as you turn your head back into the water.  This relies heavily on peripheral vision.

Sighting in the Pool - the pool is a great location to begin sighting for your race season.  After completing your warm-up, begin your main set while sighting every 10 strokes.  For most swimmers this would be about halfway down the lane, so look for the lane clock or sign on the wall as a landmark.  If you are swimming in a lane with no swimming partners, try swimming with your eyes closed for 8-10 strokes, open your eyes only when you sight.  This replicates some dark murky waters during a race!

Identify landmarks - prior to the start of the race or open water swim, pick out 2-3 points on land that can be your sight viewpoints across the water.  These should of course be stationary items such as the Red House or the Large Yellow Tree.

Frequency - sight to your landmark or buoy every 8-10 strokes.  It’s important to sight frequently in the open water to avoid swimming off course; Army Style “Left/Right/Left.”   Sighting will limit the number of misdirected paths and your overall strokes.  Remember the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Takeaway Message -  It’s important to sight in different settings and the pool is a great place to practice without the kicking, grappling associated with race day.  Your comfort level is most important when sighting, so find your rhythm and stick with it during your open water swims and on race day.