All these things mentioned should without a doubt be carried on one's person in races like this, but they also all require an important assumption--that the other person is on the boat sailing around looking for you. We're lucky the boat didn't immediately flip right over considering we were double trapped in 20knts (thank god for weather helm). I also saw the boat come within inches of going over when a big gust hit as Alan was trying to jibe through the swells. Had the boat flipped, or had Alan as well been separated, then the situation is screwed.

In conditions such as that day I think the best solution is a tether hooked to the chicken line with carabiners on both ends and the excess line coiled up in one of your pockets. Its not like your changing tacks often so its really not a bother, and the carabiner provides easy release. Or if you really want to be cool you could just not fall off the boat.