Well, it's easy to be an internet expert with 20/20 hindsight and I'm never one to turn down the opportunity.

But, first, let's focus on what he did correctly:
1) When sh*t went bad he stayed with the board. With his board, he floated for 20 hours in what was likely pretty rough water. He didn't try to save the rig or leave the board. Also, he's a lot more visible with or on a board than being in the water in a black suit.
2) He had an adequate wetsuit. He was in the water a long time but was able to stay warm enough to be alert through out the night.
3) Friends knew he was out and could let the authorities know he had not returned and roughly where he might be.

Not having any one of these three things would have likely killed him, imho.

Okay, let's play "we know better since we are on the internet".
1) Make sure your equipment is in top notch shape. This probably happened because he broke a $35-60 u-joint from trying to read between the lines (the most common reason your rig and board decide to part company). More than a few of us go out on dodgy u-joints, booms, etc. It's okay to be cheap but don't try to save a dollar when it could imperil your life.
2) Don't sail alone if at all possible. I'll admit I've sailed alone but not when the downwind shore is 2000 miles away. If he'd had a buddy, the rescue could have started much sooner before there was a lot of guesswork about his location. Possibly the buddy could have rendered assistance.
3) At 4:30 pm, he probably had an hour of daylight. As it gets closer to dark, play it a bit safer.
4) If you insist on going out alone, chose a location where the wind is onshore so you have a chance that nature will give you a shove in the right direction. Paddling a board is harder than it looks, especially in rough sea. If the wind and current are against you, paddling won't do much more than burn calories.
5) Bring a length of extra line with you. In his case, he could have reattached the rig or tied up to the crab pot. That line can help if you break a downhaul, harness line or even harness webbing. It can help you tow a buddy back in. (U-joints usually have their own safety line or webbing. Make sure they are intact. If they do fail, your extra line may be the thing that saves you.)
6) If you just must sail in challenging conditions offshore, go full San Fran and take a waterproofed marine radio (or cellphone if you realistically will stay within cell range), whistle and light stick. The guys/gals in the Bay do this if they break something and there's the risk of getting swept past the Bridge.

Let's recap - things to do when it hits the fan:
1) Reduce the chance by making sure your gear is in proper shape for the conditions. If your booms are old and creaky, don't sail a 4.5 in offshore conditions. Gear doesn't last forever and has the tendency to break when it wants to, not when it's convenient for you.
2) Dress appropriately for the conditions. That doesn't meant the bare minimum but enough to stay warm if things go bad and you need to be in the water a while.
3) If things do go bad, stay with the board. Do not risk your life for a $1000 rig.
4) Take adequate emergency gear for your location. You don't need a marine radio at Galts, but extra line may keep an interesting story from turning into a really long afternoon.
5) Sail with a buddy if possible. That's a big reason we have these forums - so people can find company to sail with. If you are the last one on the water, think about going in so everybody on the beach doesn't have to worry about you especially if you are less experienced. If you aren't the last one, consider sticking around to make sure the last one gets in safe.
6) Let someone know where you went and what time you expect to be back.

I'm glad he was safe (this happened nine years ago).

i imagine that when he was spending that cold, lonely night in fear of his life, worrying his friends half to death, and costing taxpayers a pile of money for the search, he took comfort in the fact he was doing something he loved.

randy wrote:

i imagine that when he was spending that cold, lonely night in fear of his life, worrying his friends half to death, and costing taxpayers a pile of money for the search, he took comfort in the fact he was doing something he loved.

Somebody else who hates that cliche, too.

Seriously, for those sailing alone (or with friends) in the winter, or anywhere here's something that might be worth knowing. An old cell phone, even w/o the sim card can be used to make emergency calls. Might not have helped the guy in the article, but could help us at the lake.

http://lifehacker.com/5894480/repurpose-an-old-cellphone-as-an-emergency-phone-for-your-car-other-strategic-locations