The whole complement of marines, including officers, amounted to two hundred and twelve; besides which, twenty-eight women, wives of marines, carrying with them seventeen children, were permitted to accompany their husbands.
The number of convicts was seven hundred and seventy-eight, of whom five hundred and fifty-eight were men.

Two, however, on board the Alexander, received a full pardon before the departure of the fleet, and consequently remained in England.
13 May 1787 Governor Phillip, on his arrival at the station, hoisted his flag on board the Sirius, as Commodore of the squadron: and the embarkation being completed, and the time requiring his departure, at day break on the 13th of May, he gave the signal to weigh anchor.

To the distance of about an hundred leagues clear of the channel, his Majesty's frigate Hyena, of twenty-four guns, was ordered to attend the fleet, in order to bring intelligence of its passage through that most difficult part of the voyage; with any dispatches which it might be requisite for the Governor to send home.
20 May 1787 On the 20th of May, the ships being then in latitude 47 deg.

57', and longitude 12 deg.

14' west of London, the Hyena returned.