How eleven ships kept company at sea

How did the First Fleet's ships find one another by day and night?

They used planned destinations and rendezvous points, tried not to become widely separated, carried navigators, and followed signal lamps shown by the leading ships at night.

The fleet did not rely on continuous visual contact. Its ships used prearranged rendezvous, common destinations, trained navigators aboard each vessel, and lamps displayed by leading ships such as Supply and Sirius. These measures reduced the danger that weather or darkness would permanently scatter the convoy.