Any tips on avoiding whiplash? (other than the obvious 'stay on the board')

My last few times out I've been fully lit and for a range of reasons have lost it at speed while unhooked. Realising that the end is near, I've bailed, hit the water on my back/shoulders and given myself whiplash.

I thought maybe relaxing my neck and not fighting the impact, but it's surprisingly difficult to override the self-preservation instincts! Maybe I need to dive in rather than crash onto the surface?

This seems to be the new catapulting for me at the moment! I guess it's the price I have to pay for going stupidly fast in less than flat water conditions..

Tucking the head seems to be the part that gets me in trouble - my body/shoulders hit the water and slow down, but my neck muscles aren't strong enough to slow my head down at the same rate, so they get stretched.

Usually there's not much time to think about it between bailing and hitting the water!

Yep, you work your neck while doing situps and crunches.

This is intersting as I normally only get flung while hooked in and holding the boom. I think falling off the board with nothing to hold onto is similar to water skiing. I am an expert in this (being flung)

Being a water skiier and windsurfer learning to save myself on impact was and is vital.
I am sure the only reason I get invited to go water ski jumping is to watch me bail and crash[}:)]
People who have seen me get harness flicked said I have got my arm in the water first followed by the shoulder, back and then body. I think I tend to tuck my head into my shoulder. This seems to minimise the forces applied to the neck and head. I have been asked many times how the hell did I survive that
Barefoot water skiing 38-40 knots on your feet prepares you for face slamming and water in every orofice. I am convinced it is the arm in the water first which gives you some leaverage or steerage on impact to minimize hurt.
Windsurfing is so much more fun

My 2c.

Filthy, after breaking my neck from hitting my kit whilst hooked in I cant agree, the further away you can get from your kit the better, so in future I will be unhooking if at all possible. But if you cant unhook which is sometimes the case some guys are saying let go of your front hand, they say this allows your sail and mast to fall away from you. I will be trying to avoid situations which may mean going over the front, like the obvious ones - sand banks and rail trips or just being overpowered, although with modern kit the risk of going over the front overpowered is heaps reduced. Grumple, I like what your saying, to the side or back sounds gr8