Can I stop, stand up or hold on to something during the swim?

Yes. Under section 3.1 you may:

• use any stroke, tread water or float;
• stand on or push off the bottom;
• rest by holding a buoy, stationary boat or other inanimate object.

You may not:

• pull on or push off an object (or a boat or kayak) to move forward (time penalty);
• run along the shoreline to make progress, except at designated entry and exit points.

In trouble? Raise an arm overhead and call for help. If you need more than something to rest on, you must withdraw.

Swim equipment: wear the official swim cap (a second cap goes underneath). No fins, snorkels, paddles or other propulsion aids. A personal swim buoy is allowed only if it stays undeployed; if you inflate it, you must withdraw. Buoyancy shorts are permitted at local sanctioned races (no more than 5 mm thick, top of hips to top of knees) but not at Nationals or qualifiers, and not when wetsuits are prohibited by temperature.

Contact: accidental bumps aren't penalized; continuing to impede someone is a time penalty; deliberately targeting someone is a DSQ.