How to Tackle a Crowded Start on a Triathlon

Christopher from Berlin is a newbie triathlete and avid listener of TTL. He finished 210th out of 320 with a 1927 swim time for a sprint. So some 750 meters far cry for my 15 minute pool time. How would you suggest to tackle such a crowded start? Should I have stayed behind the pack and attempted to overtake people if felt like I needed five minutes to get my heart rate and breathing up to really start swimming, he asks.