Wake

Wake refers to the line of waves and motion that boats or watercraft create when traveling through water, particularly in open water racing.
This will influence the speed of a swimmer, their rhythm also, and their ability to see. Escort vessels for long or solitary swimming also have to adjust their speed and direction to not impinge on the swimmer’s line. Large waves will also make breathing difficult, make swimming troublesome, or even produce collisions in congested races. For swimmers behind or close to escort vessels, the ability to use waves to their advantage would be a valuable skill.