ows sighting-techniques/training etc

Every now and then I'll give the look forward in the pool just to practice the motion of sighting.  Outside of that, the best way to get better at it is to get in the open water.  I've found it came easier the more times I swam open water, and really, just the more I swam anywhere in general.  Sorta like how riding your bike more makes things easier because your balance improves.  Swimming more simply made me better, and thus I was able to hold a much straighter line, which makes sighting easier.

I try and site on objects on the shore to make sure I'm parallel. I also check myself in relation to other swimmers. Third method is to occationally look ahead to make sure method 1 and 2 are working! As previously mentioned, the look ahead can be practiced during workouts.

One of the problems I've had in the past with sighting the bouy was when popping my head up to look, a swell would block my view. Yesterday, during my Oly, I found a simple technique that helped. Whenever I felt myself rising with the swell, that's when I would pull my head up to look. I could sight the buoy easily at the top of the swell. Kinda sounds intuitive, but I didn't put 2 and 2 together until yesterday.

everyone is going to the same place,,, If I'm breathing on my right I 'll start way to the left and just make sure people are on my right.  much easier than popping up your head often

I went to an OWS clinic where the coach recommended that, regardless of how frequently you sight, you should get in the habit of sighting on two consecutive strokes. The thinking is that having the two images helps you confirm what you've seen, and you aren't as likely to mistake a lifeguard on a jet-ski for a buoy.

The thing for me about OWS that freaks me out is not being able to see at all under the water because the water is so dark. So I sometimes swim at the pool with my eyes closed and then only open them when I site. Helped me get used to it a little bit more.

Something that has recently helped me is to establish a sighing pattern and repeat it. For example, once out of the initial mey-ley, I will:

Breathe right side
Breathe right side (or left if you bi-lateral breathe)
Next breath instead of looking right, I will look UP and breathe
Swim 4 strokes without breathing
Possibly another 4 strokes without a breath depending on air flow
Repeat

Thinking through the method also helped keep my mind off how long I was in the water