OPEN-WATER Masterclass (INTHEPOOL!)

On the face of it, open-water swimming and pool swimming aren’t that different. You’ll front crawl or breaststroke from start to finish, aiming to keep your body horizontal and your stroke as efficient and fast as possible. But delve a little deeper and the differences are stark – and not just water temperature…

For starters, there’s no black line to sight and follow; instead, when swimming outdoors you’re looking down at a murky abyss. That makes sighting ever-more important. Then there’s the start itself. In the pool, you can happily stand on the bottom, psyching yourself up for the session to the follow; in open water, it’s all about staying afloat, expending as little energy as possible. Throw in open-water race scenarios, like slipstreaming and turning, and you can see that waiting to practise outdoor strategies and skills until late April/early May will leave you playing catch-up.

That’s why top