What are two things that happen when Victor is out to sea?

After Victor has traveled the British Isles with his friend, Henry Clerval, for some months, he goes off by himself, having decided to occupy a remote island on which to make the female creature he has promised to his original creation.  As he labors, he finds himself repulsed by the work he does to make this female.  Upon reconsidering his promise to his creature, Victor destroys the female, and the creature then threatens to be with Victor on his wedding night since Victor has determined to deprive him of a female companion of his own. 
Before Victor can go to rejoin Henry, he sets out in a small boat, going about four miles from shore.  In the darkness of the water at night, he "took advantage of the moment of darkness and cast [his] basket [of laboratory equipment] into the sea [...]."  In other words, Victor gets rid of all the chemical instruments he would to make another creature.  He begins to feel so much better, liberated and refreshed, that he actually lies down and falls asleep.  Evidently, during this time, the creature finds Henry and strangles him, so that when Victor's boat washes up on shore again, he will be accused of the murder.