Swim question--how to react to bumps/kicks without completely losing rhythm?

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Just did my first OWS tri today, which was only my 2nd tri (both sprints with around 600 athletes).  Actually had LESS contact than my 1st tri which was a crowded pool swim.  The OWS was a 3-sided box course- out-turn right-turn right again to shore.  I did fine with the typical brushes/bumps/inadvertent kicks by just ignoring them & concentrating on my own stroke.  Someone told me to think about a running back ignoring attempted arm tackles as he drives for the endzone. Overall that thought worked well for me.  Only thing that disrupted my admittedly poor swim rhythm was when someone solidly grabbed my ankle. I felt like they started to pull me down.  I twisted free my leg free & resumed my swim. Unfortunately that episode got me swimming almost 45 degrees off course-which (as an OWS newb) took me a while to recognize.  Ended up swimming around 650M for a 500M swim.

Draft off their hips.

If they are getting annoying, look up every 2-3 strokes and plan ahead to where a bit of open space is, ie start swimming slightly to the left if they are on your right to get out of each others way.

Also, the bumps, whacks and waves you get while your out there happen to everyone, it's how you deal with them that can make you beat other people or lose to them, no point in getting angry or mad, it's just normal in OWS, it's like a washing machine full of triathletes.

i just pretend i'm in a sort of mosh pit, no matter how much you get beat up you gotta keep dancing to the music and can't miss a beat.

I think the only real way to not get messed up a little when getting hit is to have someone hit you while you swim.  Once you get over the fear and realize that it's just the same as someone nudging you out of the water, it's not so bad really.