Finally managed to cut the virtual umbilical cord to the dock (and unplug the actual power line, water hose, and dock lines) and make it away from the marina. I got an early start but somehow didn't manage to get away until noon, so instead of sailing straight to Dominica I sailed halfway there, to the Îles des Saintes. The winds started off by howling but the reefs I had in the sails soon turned out to be a bit conservative but I kept them in anyway, as I was in no hurry and even passed the only other boat on the same stretch, a small ketch.
The little outboard boat used by LSM, which collect the mooring fees, was moving around the anchorage and waved me to a mooring ball on the outside of the mooring field despite my lining up for one much close to shore; I deferred to them and they helped me moor, but that night I wish I'd ignored them since out where I was the waters were very rolly and I spent the night with earplugs inserted yet still only slept fitfully.
The outer beach of the Marina bas du Fort in Guadeloupe. [16°13'25.13"N 61°31'59.17"W (facing S)]Marina Bas du Fort exit
I passed this small ketch enroute between Marina Bas du Fort in Guadeloupe and Les Saintes, they arrived over an hour later than I did although we didn't seem to be that far from our destination. [15°55'27.68"N 61°31'49.09"W (facing N)]Ketch at sea
Royal Clipper bas-relief [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing W)]Royal Clipper bas-relief
A vibrant rainbow over Marie Galante [15°59'11.09"N 61°30'29.99"W (facing E)]Rainbow over Marie Galante
Chartplotter approach to the Saintes [15°57'18.2"N 61°31'0.89"W ]Chartplotter approach to the Saintes
Sailing to the Iles des Saintes [15°54'21.12"N 61°33'19.31"W (facing SW)]Sailing to the Iles des Saintes
The Ketch that I'd passed earlier in the passage arriving about an hour after I'd gotten my mooring. [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing NW)]Ketch arriving in Le Bourg
The Ketch crew was pointing at the dolphin, which of course my camera didn't catch! [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing NW)]There's the Dolphin!
The SeaDream Yacht Club and Star Clipper cruise ships in les Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe. [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing NW)]Cruise ships in the Saintes
Royal Star departing Les Saintes [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing NW)]Royal Star departing Les Saintes
Star Clippers Royal Clipper [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing NW)]Star Clippers Royal Clipper
The Royal Clipper ship departs Le Bourg in the Iles des Saintes at sunset. [15°52'6.01"N 61°35'4.56"W (facing W)]Royal Clippers ship departing Iles des Saintes