Breathing begins to be affected. This is why the official water temperature required for Olympic swimming competition is 77-82F (25-28C). 70F (21C) Treat any water temperature below 70F with caution.
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According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, water temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated with caution. Water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit makes it difficult to control your breathing, and anything lower than 40 degrees is painfully cold.
If you use a slow stroke rate without a wetsuit you will start to sink between strokes if you don't have great balance or buoyancy. With a wetsuit there is a lot more leniencies to swim with a slower stroke rate and keep better forward momentum.