Annette: The following is an excerpt from the website at http://www.sydney-australia.net/history/ - There's considerable information on the site re this fleet.

"The First Fleet, commissioned by Thomas Townshend, Baron Sydney,

set sail for Botany Bay on May 13, 1787, led by Captain Arthur Phillip.

The fleet comprised of the frigate HMS Sirius, four storeships, the

armed tender Supply, the Golden Grove, Borrowdale, Fishburn and six

transports, the Scarborough, Lady Penrhyn, Friendship, Charlotte, the

Prince of Wales and the Alexander.

The fleet assembled at Mother Bank, the Isle of Wright, later arriving at

Cape Town to take aboard plants, fruit trees and animals. The HMS

Supply, along with the ships Scarborough, Friendship and Alexander

sailed ahead of the fleet, first sighting the NSW coast on the 3rd of

January, 1788."