With the water getting warmer and open water swimming races/triathlons just around the corner I thought it may be a good time to start looking at some key skills for racing.

Drafting in swimming can make a big difference in time and/or energy expenditure. Some literature suggests up to 30% less energy is used by swimmers that draft efficiently. There are two main drafting positions in swimming-FEET DRAFTING and HIP DRAFTING (see above pictures) with the latter generally more efficient when performed correctly.

FEET DRAFTING, as the name suggests, is swimming directly behind the feet of another swimmer. The water can be smoothed out by the lead swimmer which lessens the surface drag resistance for the tailing swimmer. Think of feet drafting as cycling behind someone-they break the wind for you and use more energy to maintain the same speed as you. If, however, the lead swimmer is creating a lot of turbulence by using a powerful kick most of the draft advantage can be lost. Feet drafting can also be problematic because it is difficult to maintain the correct distance behind the lead swimmer. Too close and you will run into them which will break both their rhythm and yours thus slowing you down. Too far away and you will be out of the draft zone (it is suggested that 50cm to 1m is best). There is also the difficulty of sighting to make sure you are still in the correct draft position and the blind faith you are placing in the lead swimmer to be on course.

HIP DRAFTING is swimming beside the lead swimmer somewhere between their toes and hip. It allows you to take advantage of the bow wave created by the swimmer in front. Basically, they are dragging surface water forward which creates a small leading wave adjacent to them between their toes and hip. If you can successfully position yourself on that (bow) wave you will be pushed forward. The other benefits to this drafting position are that you can continue to check your relative position by breathing to the side where the lead swimmer is and that you can stay out of any turbulence that may be created by them. Again, you are relying on the lead swimmer to swim in a straight line and hip drafting takes a lot of practice to get right. Hip drafting is more efficient in calm conditions but if the water is rough and/or you are swimming into a current you may be better off dropping into the feet drafting position.

Both these drafting positions take a lot of practice to get right so start now. Please make sure you ask permission before you start practicing especially in the pool-complete strangers tend to get very annoyed when you start swimming right on their feet and even more so at hip level.

Happy Training,

Peter