they were traveling together so that each could keep an eye on the others, and if one were boarded, the others could sound the alarm.

Of course a strafing run by a pirate boat would have taken out the whole convoy.

But I believe from the reading that they were well separated, but still in sight of each other, and made use of low power VHF for their comms.

Sounded like Fatty had an even more "wonderful" time dealing with the "officials" at the canal.