I frequently find myself having to make a quick decision in open water races - draft off the person in front of me who is drifting slightly off course or give up and go on my own without the draft benefit on the straighter line.
Often I figure that the slight extra distance is worth the draft and just silently hope the lead person in the pack straightens out.
It's very hard to decide which is best in the heat of the swim. It depends on how off course the lead person is, but it's not easy to know that at water level in the middle of the race.
Which would you pick?
Most swimmers are right handed, so they pull harder with that hand & go to the right. If you swim to the left of the pack you will make fewer corrections.
Most swimmers are right handed, so they pull harder with that hand & go to the right. If you swim to the left of the pack you will make fewer corrections.
