Triathlon - spring outdoor swimming

Anyone use a Body Glove Rashguard T-shirt, long or short sleeve. It is thick lycra and I thought it might help me keep warm with my early spring/summer swims. Better fitting than a t-shirt and not a full-on wetsuit.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/382,18307_Body-Glove-540-Rash-Guard-Short-Sleeve-For-Men.html

No mate, that´s not how a rashie works. Unless it´s a rashie made from neoprene, with lycra arms and neck, it will not offer any thermal advantage.

Rashies stop rubbing between wetties and your skin.

Here´s a rashie made from Neoprene, although in my experience they work best under a wetsuit (adding a layer of warmth to your core when neccessary, for example when having to use a wettie too thin for the water temp).

http://www.catchsomeair.us/shop/product.php?productid=16981&cat=279&page=1

I find that a trisuit plus wetsuit (a Blue Seventy Reaction) is ample for water temps of 55-60 and up.

I wear a rashguard, farmer john shorties and a neoprene cap. Plenty of warmth and mobility for San Francisco Bay in May. Looks kinda funky but I don't care. I wear the rashguard mainly for protection from the sun.