looking for advice

Sunday was my first open water swim. I was definately fit enough to take on my a one mile swim, 26 mile bike and 6.2 mile run in kingston on the Hudson river. For the past 4 months I have been training hard first 2 months one mile swims 2 to 3 times a week in 25 yard pool. Next month One mile swims followed by 2 or 3 hard 200 swims. Last month a 100 warm up, hard 200 meter swim, followed by a mile swim under 35 minutes and then 3 to 4 100's strong pace under 1:45 30 second rest. I thought I was ready, but found I had numerous problems. One I did not wear a wetsuit and paid for it creating to much drag. Second after 80 strokes I felt uncomfortable and could hardly see 2 feet ahead of me in the Hudson. I wanted to go back and quit, but a guy in a wave runner helped turn me around. I still couldn't keep track of the 1st marker. I wound up at the second marker 200yards or so down river. This was a mistake most made by most the race, but because of my slow start I was! forced to swim 250 yards up river alone. I finally lined my self up straight up stream for the marker and went for it after a jurk in a Kayak said he though I was going backwards, It was then I just went for it Looking up less and putting together a bunch of long hard strokes. My biggest problem with swimming in open water is keeping direction and feeling that I need to look after 20 strokes or so to stay on corse. Any suggestions on what to do. Ps Took 40 minutes to swim up river on the Hudson plus 20 out and 15 back. A friend did the swim last year the swim took 20 minutes this year he did it in 38.