I couldn`t find any reference pics on the net for the paragliding quick-release carabiner, but it basically looks like a climbing carabiner, except that it has a button on each side, some have a sliding keeper over the buttons, you can get to the buttons with one hand and the whole top half of the carabiner releases, so you won`t have the rope hooking on any part, unfortunately you would lose the top half since it isn`t tied to anything, but at least you won`t drown trying to free the rope from the snap-shackle. Gary`s solution is a good one but might have it`s hang-ups.
I`m not sure about the lifespan if used in salt water - they are aluminium but have moving parts which might not take well to seawater.

Hi Clint, Yeah down here the Hobie fleet sails mainly off Fish Hoek, close to where Great Whites eat Kayakers and use their boats as toothpicks.
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=269&fArticleId=2900584
Sean is still pretty much top dog here, Blaine and William are from Knysna/Plett but come regularly for regattas, but they are mostly on Tigers now, just sailing H16`s until after the worlds (Why have I seen no mention of H16 Worlds here, thought they were on real soon ??, in Port Elizabeth.) Hey Clint you should be there !!
If you spend a while in Cape Town get hold of me and I`ll arrange a test-sail on the Mozzie . Will have you adding another boat to your collection. We have a 20 boat fleet here, as do the Hobies most club races.

Cheers
Steve