In ocean swimming, pacing can make or break your race. Unlike pool swimming, where conditions are controlled and predictable, open water brings currents, chop, navigation and other swimmers into the equation. That’s why having a simple, reliable pacing strategy can make a huge difference to how your swim unfolds.

One of the most effective approaches I’ve found is surprisingly straightforward: start fast, settle into rhythm, then finish strong.

Start fast for the first 200 – 300m

The opening few hundred metres of an ocean swim are often the most chaotic. Everyone is fresh, everyone wants a good position, and the field is still tightly packed together.

That’s why I recommend starting the first 200 – 300 metres at a strong pace.

The goal isn’t to sprint all-out, but to swim fast enough to establish your position early. By doing this, you can often move ahead of swimmers who might normally sit around your pace. Once the field starts to spread out, you’re already in a good spot rather than fighting through traffic or swimming around people.

This small early effort can give you a valuable advantage from the start of the race.

Settle into your comfortable race pace

After the first few hundred metres, it’s time to settle into a rhythm.

Ocean swims reward swimmers who can hold a strong but sustainable pace for long periods of time. Once the field has spread out, focus on finding a tempo that feels controlled and efficient. You should feel like you’re working, but not like you’re redlining.

This middle portion is where most of the race happens. It’s about maintaining good form, swimming straight, sighting regularly, and conserving enough energy for the finish.

The key is to stay relaxed while still moving forward with purpose.

Choose your moment to lift the pace

As you get closer to the finish, the strategy shifts again.

At some point in the final part of the race, you want to lift the pace and finish strong. For some swimmers, that might be the final 500 metres. For others, it might only be the last 200 metres.

The right moment depends on two things: how you’re feeling in the water and the training you’ve been doing.

If you’ve paced the earlier parts of the swim well, you should feel like you still have something left in the tank. That’s the time to increase your stroke rate slightly, push the effort up a gear, and carry that momentum all the way to the beach.

A strong finish can often gain you several places in the closing moments of the race.

A simple strategy that works

Ocean swimming is unpredictable, but having a clear pacing plan can keep you calm and focused throughout the race.

A strong start helps you establish a position.

A steady middle keeps your swim controlled and efficient.

And a well-timed finishing surge lets you empty the tank when it matters most.

It’s a simple strategy, but one that consistently works in open water. And like most things in ocean swimming, the more you practice it in training and races, the better you’ll get at judging exactly how hard to push at each stage of the swim.