Thanks, KSH, for the tip about staying to the outside away from the buoys. I'm gonna be putt-putting, and one of the women at work keeps saying I need to stay to the INside, but that'd mean I'd get run over!
Well, people who want to swim the shortest distance possible... like to stay on the inside.

They do this because:

1) They want the best time possible- so they are highly compeitive and WILL swim over you to shave a few second off.

2) Are not confident they can make the distance... and want to make it as short as a swim as possible.

So, if you are confident with your swimming and you don't want to get run over... stay on the outside... most people don't go there.

I have done 3 open water swims in races... and one was a HIM (relay team), and I have NEVER been run over, hit, beaten up, kicked, etc. WAIT! I was kicked once, as the exit area was all jumbled up... and they guy who kicked me apologized.