Open Water Two-Point Navigation Drill Session

Session Overview

This targeted open-water technique session develops two-point navigation — sighting between two fixed landmarks to swim in a straight line rather than drifting off course. Poor sighting is one of the most common race-day errors, adding hundreds of metres to your swim. Best done at a lake, reservoir, or calm coastal venue with two visible landmarks or buoys 300–500m apart.

What You’ll Need

• Open water venue with two visible landmarks or buoys
• Wetsuit (depending on water temperature)
• Open water goggles with UV tinting
• Safety tow float
• GPS watch (optional — to review your swim line post-session)

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

10 minutes easy freestyle to acclimatise to the water temperature. Practice three sighting methods: full-head lift (Tarzan), front-quadrant peek (minimal drag), and a quick half-lift within a bilateral breathing pattern. Also identify any current or drift in the water — you’ll compensate for this in your navigation during the main set.

Main Set

Identify two fixed landmarks 300–500m apart. Swim directly between them, using two-point alignment: sight landmark A ahead, swim towards it, then briefly check landmark B behind you to confirm you’re on a straight line. The goal is to cover the shortest possible distance between the two points.

• Set 1 — Free navigation: 3 lengths between the two points with no constraints on sighting frequency. Note how straight your line feels (GPS confirms this)
• Set 2 — Restricted sighting: Sight only every 8–12 strokes. Use peripheral vision and water feel between sights to hold your line
• Set 3 — Drafting practice: Swim behind a training partner and use them as your navigation reference. Stay close without touching feet. 3 lengths
• Set 4 — Race simulation: Swim the full course at race pace, sighting every 6–8 strokes, prioritising both speed and accuracy simultaneously

Cool-Down (10 minutes)

Easy 200m swim back to shore, focusing on a long catch and relaxed kick. Review your GPS track if available — this provides objective data on exactly how straight each set was.

Coaching Notes

• Choose two landmarks on opposite sides of your swim line (e.g., a tree and a distant church tower) — this gives you a reference axis to track along
• Common mistake: lifting your head too high and too long — each sight should take less than half a second
• If you consistently drift to one side, your dominant arm is pulling harder — address bilateral balance in pool sessions
• In races, always use two landmarks: one close (50m ahead) and one distant (the actual buoy) to triangulate your position accurately