You guys definitely need an epirb on each boat (406 much preferred). Also, handheld VHFs often go for only 5 miles, and their batteries are unreliable in salt water (e.g. beachcat).

Each boat needs to be COMPLETELY independent of the others. When the weather goes bad or something breaks, you can not count on another cat being able to help you. It is highly likely they won't even see that you are in distress (esp. at night or in bad weather).

I have done about 20 crossings from L.A. to Catalina Island (25 miles), and 5 times in the Newport-Ensenada race on a cat (145 miles down the coastline). Please see http://www.whitecaps.net for how we organize things. Keep in mind that we have much milder weather in SoCal than the Gulf Stream.

Trust me, the first time the sun goes down and you can't see shore, you will really begin to wonder if this was such a good idea. I would highly recommend doing some shorter sails (preferably in bad weather) before setting out to Bimini.

Please don't become another statistic.

Alan Thompson
I20 - San Diego