What to do to increase safety sailing alone?

Easiest answer is "don't", but like you, I'm often out by myself.

Carry a spare piece of rope - most things can be jury rigged on the water, enough to get you back at least. Check all your kit regularly - breaking stuff is annoying at the best of times, but all that much more critical when you're by yourself.

Don't sail further out than you're prepared to swim back - and remember that the distance decreases the longer you sail.. If the wind is a bit light, sometimes I'll swim my gear in instead of sailing it, just for the training.

NEVER go out in an offshore wind by yourself.. even cross-off is very dodgy. If you have gear break, or an injury, you don't want to be drifting off out to sea with nobody around to hear your yells. Make sure someone know where you are, and when to expect you back, that way they'll at least know when to start looking for you, and where.

Learn how to derig on the water - sometimes pulling everything apart, tying it on top of your board and paddling in is your best option. Also practice sailing without a fin - either using the rail, or the harness tied through the back strap method. I had a fin drop out once, and managed to make it back... just. It's not easy!

There is a pretty good collection of articles about safety and self rescue on the UK boards forum:
http://www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?article_type=11
www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?ID_A=6&article_type=11

Mobile phone is a reasonable idea - provided you have coverage where you're sailing, and don't have to take it out of the bag to use it. Yes, I take my car key - there's a string loop in the key pocket of my harness, and that keeps it safe and secure, and is a much better idea (around here anyway) than hiding it in the usual place on the car.

I agree with ducati and think that one of the best investments you can make is into a comfortable windsurfing-friendly pfd. You'll be amazed at how much less energy you use, and when things go wrong you can relax and float while you get your thoughts together to figure out how to get sorted.

I often sail alone. I wear a helmet, and no PFD. Getting knocked out worries me, especially in heavy conditions. Since wearing a helmet I have been amazed at how often I have hit my head on the mast/boom.

I figure if I stay conscious and get in trouble my board is my flotation device. However if I get knocked out, even with a PFD, I'll be seperated from the rig and cant call for help.

I also don't sail out further than I can swim.

Biggest tip is to let people know were you are going. Chat with people (windsurfers and beachgoers) on the beach while you are rigging. If you tell a stranger on the beach you are windsurfing they will probably be midly interested and may even keep an "subconscious" eye on you.

All the usual advice holds good and sailing alone is a worry that we all have. At least make sure you have adequate life insurance so that if the worst happens your nearest and dearest don't suffer too great a financial blow.

A will would also be a good idea - so when the gear does finally wash up on the beach someone can get to use it ! Plus the stuff you left in your car, maybe leave all the windsurfing gear to seabreeze !

But seriously all the times I have had to swim in its been equipment failure. So now I replace stuff regularily rather than waiting for it to break. Ropes / booms / mast base. The last swim was after breaking a boom (fell on it at Mettams) - sailed 1K out and then heard a loud CRACK - sailed back in and when nearly at the beach the other side of the boom came completely apart. So the swim was only over the reef as I could sail with one half connected. The boom was less than a year old but as my chest was sore for about 6 weeks afterwards I think I hit it pretty hard ! SS replaced it no questions asked which was very good.

When I and my friends do coast runs we have a sort of "buddy" system like diving, and keep an eye on where the others are. Only a problem when you lose one and sail for the next hour wondering what to tell his wife ! Then discover the bstrd was downwind of you the whole time wondering why you are going so slow (looking for him in the water !)

I dont know if anyone has one of those personal EPIRBs, that and a PFD would seem the ultimate safety cover.

When I recently got a GPS people were all asking if it was also an EPIRB - I told them its sort of a safety device. When they body washes up then they can tell where it came from.

I go out quite a bit on my own but then where I sail isn't all that deep. Maybe 2m at the most.
I don't have a PDF yet but when I get one it will only be to help me with water starts. A PDF 2 or 3 will not help you if you are knocked unconscious as they are only designed as a buoyancy aid rather than a proper life jacket.
A helmet is a good idea. I have had a few knocks already.
Also if you are down south have a pretty good wetsuit for winter. Its easy for you to get hypothermia during the cooler months. Helps with the buoyancy too.

Disagree in some situations Mikey. Down here in winter the water temp is often warmer than the air. The sea here rarely gets much less than 10 degrees (could be corrected on that), but with windchill factored in I know I've been sailing when the air's only a couple of degrees. I actually fall off on gybes on purpose to warm up.
But you're right, immersion hypothermia sets in quick.

3 5s suggested practice sailing without a fin. Sounds impractical but you can practice that by sailing fin first. It's almost the same, and it's a useful practical skill. Not only does it help when you lose a fin but it enables you to launch and land in very shallow water with a very big fin without the long walk. Its a useful skill for light wind freestyle too.
It's physically demanding and seems almost impossible the first time you try so it's not something you can just do when you need it. You have to practice.

i think firiebob would be a good resource person for this...

Thanks for very useful information and some jokes that made me laugh so hard. I'm in Melbourne and usually sail around Elwood/St.Kilda. If anyone see me in trouble, please help.

I think part of the reason I hit my head more is coz the helmet adds an extra few inches to my head that I am not used too. I have the same problem with my construction hard hat for work. Keep hitting my head when ducking scaffold. Never quite learn to compensate for it.

Trebuchet - I have a neil pryde floatation vest - I think it is a PFD 3 - (ie wont keep your head out of the water if you are unconcious).

the little stash pocket in the front is a great place to put some spare rigging string, powerbar, gps etc...
Works great, doesnt get in the way, gives you that little extra bouyancy & saves heaps of energy. They go for around $120 au - well worth it.

http://www.neilprydewaterwear.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=8&node=1

Brilliant!!! If the wind died you would get recoiled back too!

If it's worth sailing, there's bound to be someone out at those locations. If it's a southerly, sou-west or westerly you would be fairly safe at Elwood or St Kilda as you'll eventually get washed onshore. Elwood is particularly good if you sail out from the Sailing Club, because there's more likely to be someone there in the tower who might see you if you get into trouble.

Hence my advice to wear a wetsuit for the water temperature (or as Easty rightly points out, air temperature, depending on which is going to sap body heat faster). I've been caught out at Elwood in the middle of winter when the wind went from 25kts to nothing in about 5 minutes, leaving a long swim back. But I was toasty warm in my booties and hood and winter wettie, so an hour in cold water swimming back even after the sun had set didn't worry me. By the same token, bobbing around at Elwood for an hour one October after I had dislocated a shoulder when I was only wearing a spring suit was not a pleasant experience, particularly when I was getting hypothermic.

If it's a northerly, you're better off sailing at Green Point, Brighton, where the air is less turbulent. If there's no-one sailing at Elwood, or especially St Kilda, it's because the wind will be so much better a bit further around the bay. Again, If there's a bit of west in it, you will eventually get blown onshore at Sandringham.

See ya out on the water sometime.

Tell me Joy Suemag. Does Mag stand for Maggie?