Even veteran swimmers might want to make their annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim go a little smoother.

With that reasoning in mind, the Waikiki Roughwater Swim committee is offering two free clinics before the Sept. 4 race to help newcomers and longtime swimmers.

"We want swimmers to have a better understanding and feel more comfortable (in the water)," said Ted Sheppard, who has been president of the committee for the past 10 years. "We try to determine the strengths and weaknesses of swimmers, and find what advice they might need."

Most of the information centers around knowing which avenues to travel over the 2.4-mile distance. The reefs and currents while swimming out from the start at San Souci beach and swimming to the finish at the Hilton Hawaiian Village can be troublesome for unfamiliar swimmers.

The next clinic is July 24 at San Souci, and the last is at the Hilton beach area Aug. 7. Both run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Sheppard said they would take people out into the water at both clinics to help acclimate them to each location.

At a preliminary clinic last month, four people attended. But coach Joe Lileikis, a former University of Hawai'i swimming standout, said that attendance usually increases to about 50 in July and nearly 100 for the clinic closest to the race, he said.

Sheppard, Lileikis and assistant Rick Hetzel advised participants at the first clinic to be at the edges of the main pack of swimmers, or behind them, where drafting — staying in the wake of those ahead — will allow energy to be conserved for a late push.

"Having an efficient swim is the main goal," Sheppard told the group. "As well as enjoying the experience."

Some of the secondary lessons at the clinics involve proper hydration — knowing what to drink and eat prior to the race — as well as stretching and race etiquette.

A total of 887 swimmers entered last year's race, won by Noa Sakamoto, a Punahou alum who swims for Stanford.

Terry Trahan, 64, of Honolulu, was at the clinic for the third year in a row.

He has competed in the Roughwater Swim over the past 15 years, and said "it made a lot of difference" with his race time when he started attending the clinics.

"I've (learned better) how to stroke, how to pace myself, and the proper way to come inside the channel (to finish), and how to get out of the water," Trahan said.

Sheppard advised swimmers to either hug the reef on the east side or swing out wide to the west to avoid the current when they make the final 864-meter swim toward shore.

Three of the listeners — the ones who had raced before —nodded understandingly.

"Originally I went right down the middle, and I was always surprised at how slow I was," Trahan said. He added that hugging the reef allowed him to shave 15 minutes off his final time.

Registration for the race is $30 if completed online at www.wrswim.com, or $40 for mail-ins by Aug. 19. Visit the Web site for more information.