OSRS Sailing Guide

Sailing is the first new skill added to Old School RuneScape in nearly two decades, and it makes this massive world even bigger by adding everything that comes with having a boat - fully explorable oceans, dozens of new lands in the form of islands, new types of activities, monsters, and much more. This OSRS sailing guide walks you through everything you need to know about the skill - what it actually is, how to unlock it, and how to take it to the max level 99.

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What is OSRS Sailing

Sailing is a members-only Utility skill released on 19 November 2025, making it the first new skill added to Old School RuneScape in eighteen years. It introduces a full ocean layer to the game, allowing players to captain their own ships, explore new seas, and unlock content that wasn’t previously accessible on land. After completing the Pandemonium quest, players receive their first vessel and gain access to ports, navigation tools, and the basic systems that define the skill.

At its core, OSRS sailing skill combines navigation, shipbuilding, and exploration. Players steer ships across multiple oceans, dock at new islands, interact with sea hazards, take part in ocean encounters, and access activities like sea charting, port tasks, shipwreck salvaging, Barracuda Trials, and deep sea trawling. Each boat can be upgraded with new parts and facilities, which expand what the player can do at sea and open the door to better activities and higher-level content.

Sailing also adds over two dozen new islands containing unique rocks, trees, creatures, and gathering methods. Materials collected on land and at sea can be turned into upgrade components, new foods, potions, and tools like blowpipes. Ship combat is another part of the system, allowing players to fight sea creatures with cannons and repair their vessel mid-battle. Crewmates can be hired to operate facilities and support specific activities.

Overall, Sailing functions as a broad progression system that links navigation, upgrades, travel, and gathering into a single loop. It gives players new ways to explore Gielinor, new resources to work with, and new methods to support other skills while progressing from early ships to powerful, fully-equipped vessels. Let me know when you want to move on to the Level 1–99 section.

How to Unlock Sailing in OSRS

Sailing is a members-only skill, so the only hard requirement to start is having an active membership. Once you’re in a member's world, unlocking the skill is entirely tied to a single novice quest called Pandemonium. This quest acts as the Sailing tutorial, teaches all the basics, and gives you your first ship. Let’s name what you need to do now, so you don’t have to keep on searching OSRS how to unlock sailing anymore.

To begin, you need to travel to Port Sarim. Port Sarim is on the southern coast of Asgarnia, between Falador to the north and Draynor Village to the east, with Rimmington and Mudskipper Point just to the west and south. Once you’re there, head to the docks on the eastern side of town and go to the second-southernmost pier. On that jetty, you’ll find Will and Anne next to their salvaging boat. Talking to either of them starts Pandemonium and kicks off the Sailing unlock process.

Pandemonium quest walkthrough (step by step):

1. Talk to Will or Anne on the Port Sarim dock and accept their offer to help with a salvaging run. You’ll be taken aboard their boat and asked to steer it.
2. Click the helm to take control of the ship, then sail south through the Bay of Sarim toward the marked pirate wreck east of the Karamja Shipyard. This teaches basic navigation and ship movement.
3. Once you reach the wreck, follow the prompt to lower the salvaging hook. You’ll haul up a mysterious medallion and an old cup, which Will and Anne react to. After a short scene, you get thrown overboard.
4. You wake up on The Pandemonium, a hidden settlement that will become your Sailing hub. Talk to Squawking Steve Beanie, then to Ribs in the pub to learn about the medallion and the Crimson Kraken story.
5. After speaking with them and returning to Steve, you are sent to Junior Jim on a nearby docked ship. Trade him the old cup in exchange for your first vessel: a basic raft.
6. Junior Jim takes you to the local shipyard. Pick up the hammer and saw from the crates, board your raft via the gangplank, and build a cargo hold in the facility hotspot. This is your first ship customisation step.
7. Disembark and talk to Junior Jim again. He gives you a Captain’s log and sends you to Port Sarim to collect a cargo crate. Board your raft, use the helm, and sail north back toward Port Sarim.
8. Dock at the buoy near the southern docks of Port Sarim, walk up the gangplank, and take a crate of cargo from the ledger table on the pier. You must have your hands free to carry it.
9. Return to your raft, load the cargo into the basic cargo hold, and sail back south to The Pandemonium. Dock again, unload the cargo from your hold, and place it on the ledger table there.
10. Talk to Junior Jim to confirm the delivery, then speak to Steve Beanie in the pub to wrap up the storyline and complete the quest.

The rewards for finishing Pandemonium are straightforward but important: you unlock access to the Sailing skill itself, gain your own raft as a permanent ship, receive the Captain’s log for tracking sea OSRS sailing charting tasks, and get a small bundle of starter items including Sailing experience, sawmill coupons, repair kits, and a spyglass. You also gain permanent access to The Pandemonium as an ocean hub. BLOG20

Once this is done, Sailing is fully unlocked. You can board your raft from any port using its gangplank, start sea charting from level 1, pick up courier tasks from notice boards in Port Sarim and The Pandemonium, and begin working toward your first upgrade at level 15 when the skiff becomes available.

How to Level Up Sailing Skill 1–99 in OSRS

Now, the following is an OSRS sailing leveling guide split into milestones for your convenience. By the time you finish Pandemonium, you’ll already be Sailing level 5 and have your first raft, your Captain’s Log, and access to The Pandemonium and Port Sarim. From here, the real leveling begins. Sailing progresses in small steps tied to important unlocks like new boats, new quests, and new minigames, so the fastest route is built around hitting each milestone as efficiently as possible. The sections below walk you through every optimal method from level 5 all the way to 99.

Levels 5–12 – Courier Tasks Between Port Sarim and The Pandemonium

Once Pandemonium is complete and you’re sitting at level 5, you'll begin your OSRS sailing 1–99 journey. The fastest and simplest way to push toward level 12 is by running courier tasks between Port Sarim and The Pandemonium. These early deliveries teach you how port tasks work, give steady experience, and unlock the second task slot at level 7, which speeds things up noticeably.

Courier tasks are taken from the notice boards at both ports. At level 5 you can only take one task at a time, so you simply alternate back and forth: pick up a task that sends you to the opposite port, take the cargo from the ledger table, load it onto your raft, sail to the destination, unload it, and collect your XP reward. Once you hit level 7, you can take two simultaneous tasks, which nearly doubles your hourly experience without adding complexity.

The XP at this stage is modest but reliable. You’ll visit the helm often, trim your sails when gusts appear for bonus XP, and get used to navigating through the Bay of Sarim. Each successful delivery grants Sailing experience, coins, and basic supplies like logs and nails, all of which feed into later boat upgrades. Even without perfect tasks, the back-and-forth loop naturally carries you toward level 12 in a short session.

Below is what you can generally expect while running early courier tasks:

• Very small maps with short sailing routes
• 10k XP per hour when tasks line up cleanly
• A steady stream of simple materials for future shipbuilding
• Access to two task slots at level 7, which noticeably speeds up the method

By the time you reach level 12, courier tasks will have served their purpose. The Prying Times quest unlocks immediately at this point, and its reward jump makes it the natural next step before moving on to higher-level methods.

Level 12 – Complete Prying Times (Instant Boost to Level 15)

Reaching level 12 unlocks the Prying Times quest, and completing it right away is one of the biggest early shortcuts in Sailing. The quest itself is short, easy, and designed to open up more charting tools for later sections of the skill. Its reward is where the real value lies: the 800 Sailing experience it grants pushes you straight past level 15, skipping several slow early levels.

To begin the quest, head to Catherby with a steel bar, a redberry pie, a hammer, and your Captain’s Log. The steps are simple and only take a few minutes, making it an essential part of the optimal 1–99 progression. Once you complete it, you gain the crowbar—a required tool for certain sea charting tasks—and unlock the ability to perform more complex charting in the early oceans.

This quick bump to level 15 is important because it gives you immediate access to your first real boat upgrade: the skiff. The skiff has more facility slots, can equip a salvaging hook, and opens the door to the first meaningful shift in experience rates. With the raft now behind you and the skiff in hand, level 15 marks the moment where Sailing starts to feel more flexible, giving way to both active and AFK-friendly training methods in the next tier.

 Levels 15–20 – Bronze Salvaging Hook on the Skiff

With level 15 unlocked and the Prying Times quest completed, your next step is to purchase a skiff and install your first salvaging hook. This marks the point where Sailing starts opening up, giving you both AFK-friendly and more active training options. The bronze salvaging hook is built inside a facility hotspot on your skiff using bronze bars, planks, nails, and a rope.

Salvaging is straightforward. Sail to a shipwreck, stop alongside it, and deploy the hook to gather salvage for small but steady experience. These early wreck sites—especially the ones southeast of The Pandemonium—respawn quickly and keep your travel time low. This makes the method smooth for early progression and easy to repeat even with minimal attention.

If you prefer faster experience, you can use knife-and-log tick manipulation to double your pulls per hour. It’s more demanding but significantly increases your XP rate. The AFK option, however, remains reliable and consistent, which is why most players choose it for this bracket.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Buy the skiff and upgrade it with a bronze salvaging hook
2. Sail to a nearby wreck southeast of The Pandemonium
3. Stop your skiff beside it and deploy the hook for steady XP
4. AFK until the wreck depletes, then move a few tiles to the next
5. Use tick manipulation only if you want faster experience

Between AFK salvaging and occasional movement, you’ll reach level 20 comfortably. This level range is meant to ease you toward larger routes and faster upgrades, making it a smooth transition into the next progression tier.

Levels 20–22 – Long-Distance Port Tasks (Catherby Unlock)

At level 20, you gain access to the Catherby delivery route, which becomes the most efficient short-term option before your next quest milestone. These port tasks award noticeably more experience because Sailing XP scales with travel distance. Even with a basic skiff, traveling between Port Sarim, The Pandemonium, and Catherby creates longer routes that reward more XP per delivery.

The method is simple: you’re still completing courier tasks, but now you’re actively looking for long-distance routes. Catherby in particular gives the best XP during this short leveling window. You can also use the boat recovery service to reposition your ship if you teleport to Catherby without it, as long as your cargo hold is empty.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Continue taking courier tasks, but choose the longest routes available
2. Look specifically for Port Sarim to Catherby or Catherby to Port Sarim tasks
3. Teleport to Catherby when needed and recover your boat at the dock master
4. Make sure your cargo hold is empty before recovering the boat
5. Complete these deliveries until you reach level 22

Once you hit level 22, you immediately unlock Current Affairs, the next quest-based XP boost, and the next natural step in the leveling path.

Level 22 – Complete Current Affairs (Boost to Level 24)

Reaching level 22 unlocks the Current Affairs quest, and completing it right away is the most efficient path forward. Much like Prying Times, this quest is short, simple, and designed to smooth out early Sailing progression by giving you another chunk of free experience. When you finish Current Affairs, you receive 1,400 Sailing XP, which immediately pushes you from level 22 to level 24.

This quest is also important because it unlocks two key items for sea charting: the current duck and improved charting options in your Captain’s Log. Although charting doesn’t become a major XP method until later, these tools are required for completing certain regions more efficiently.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Travel to Catherby to start Current Affairs
2. Bring the required items and follow the short quest steps
3. Complete the quest to gain a +1,400 XP reward
4. Unlock the current duck and expanded charting tasks
5. Move directly into boat upgrades and delivery improvements at level 24

With level 24 unlocked, you gain access to new hull and sail upgrades that make your skiff faster and more responsive—crucial for the next block of courier tasks before larger salvaging and trial methods begin.

Levels 24–27 – Faster Courier Tasks After Boat Upgrades

Reaching level 24 allows you to upgrade your skiff with better sails and a stronger hull, both of which noticeably improve your speed and handling. These upgrades make courier tasks more efficient than before, and this short bracket uses them to bridge the gap toward level 27. The faster your skiff becomes, the more value you get from longer routes such as Catherby, Port Piscarilius, or extended loops along the southern coastline.

At this stage the gameplay loop is the same as earlier courier training, but each delivery now takes less time thanks to improved movement speed. Trimming your sails during gusts also provides more XP per trim at higher levels, further improving your hour-by-hour gains. Because this is the last stretch before the steel salvaging hook, the goal is simply to complete tasks quickly and take advantage of the smoother navigation your upgrades provide.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Upgrade your skiff’s sails and hull for better speed and acceleration
2. Continue completing courier tasks between distant ports
3. Prioritize locations that give longer routes for more XP per delivery
4. Trim your sails whenever possible to take advantage of higher-level XP boosts
5. Push to level 27 so you can unlock and build the steel salvaging hook

Once you hit level 27, your next major jump in efficiency arrives. The steel salvaging hook becomes available, unlocking far better AFK gains and giving you the first stable mid-level training method.

 

Levels 27–30 – Steel Salvaging Hook (Early Midgame AFK Method)

Level 27 is a key turning point because it unlocks the steel salvaging hook, the first truly strong AFK training option in Sailing. Upgrading from bronze to steel immediately increases your salvage XP per pull and gives access to new shipwreck sites with much better yields. For players who prefer relaxed training, this is the method that finally feels smooth and rewarding.

To get started, build the steel salvaging hook inside your skiff using steel bars, teak planks, steel nails, a rope, and lead bars. Lead can be bought cheaply or mined on The Pandemonium, making the upgrade accessible even to newer accounts. Once built, sail to the level-26+ shipwreck sites northeast of The Pandemonium or along the coastline leading toward Deepfin Point. These wrecks deplete slowly and respawn predictably, making them ideal for long AFK cycles.

The XP rate jumps significantly here. AFK salvaging with the steel hook typically yields 10,000–12,000 XP per hour, while tick-manipulating with knife-and-log timing can push that well above 20,000 XP per hour. Even though tick manipulation requires more attention, many players use it occasionally just to speed up the final stretch to level 30.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Build the steel salvaging hook using steel bars, teak planks, nails, rope, and lead
2. Sail to level-26+ shipwreck locations for improved salvage XP
3. Deploy the hook and remain beside a wreck until it depletes
4. AFK for steady XP, or tick-manipulate for significantly faster gains
5. Train here until level 30, when Barracuda Trials become available

Once you reach level 30, you unlock the first Barracuda Trial. This is the point where Sailing completely changes pace and moves into much higher experience rates.

Levels 30–55 – Barracuda Trials (Tempor Tantrum)

Level 30 unlocks the Barracuda Trials, and this is where Sailing shifts into its first major high-XP method. While I didn’t have the time to write a complete OSRS barracuda trials guide, this summary should suffice.

The Tempor Tantrum trial sits just south of The Pandemonium and is designed as an obstacle-course challenge that rewards speed, accuracy, and route optimization. Even with a modest skiff, completing the Swordfish, Shark, and Marlin ranks for the first time grants large bonus XP drops, instantly pushing your levels forward.

After these first-time clears, Tempor Tantrum becomes a repeatable activity offering roughly 20,000–25,000 XP per hour depending on your boat upgrades and consistency. Each run also logs personal bests and unlocks cosmetic rewards, storm keys, and useful items like captured wind motes or fabric rolls for future ship customization. While not as AFK as salvaging, the trials deliver higher experience and a more engaging gameplay loop.

Upgrading your skiff during this bracket makes a big difference. Improved hulls, better sails, and higher acceleration values directly impact how quickly you can complete each run. These upgrades stack alongside your growing familiarity with the route, letting you hit strict rank timers more reliably. Although you can return to salvaging if you prefer AFK gameplay, the trials remain the fastest active method until level 55.

A quick overview of what to do to reach the middle point of OSRS sailing training:

1. Head south of The Pandemonium and start the Tempor Tantrum trial
2. Complete Swordfish, then Shark, then Marlin to collect large first-time bonus XP
3. Upgrade your hull, sail, and steering parts whenever possible for smoother runs
4. Follow marked crate routes and whirlpool boosts to stay on pace
5. Repeat Tempor Tantrum for 20k–25k XP per hour until level 55

Reaching level 55 unlocks the next trial tier, The Jubbly Jive, which brings another large jump in hourly XP and becomes your new main leveling method.

Levels 55–72 – Jubbly Jive Trials (High Midgame XP)

At level 55 you unlock The Jubbly Jive, the second Barracuda Trial tier and a major upgrade to your overall experience rates. These trials take place in a larger course with tighter rank timers, faster movement sections, and more crate pickups per lap. Because they scale directly with your boat’s performance, upgrading your hull, sails, and helm becomes much more relevant here than in earlier brackets.

The XP gains are strong and scale with difficulty. A smooth Swordfish rank run already surpasses Tempor Tantrum, while Shark and Marlin ranks dramatically increase your hourly efficiency. Well-executed Marlin runs often reach 60,000 to 90,000 XP per hour depending on boat speed and turnaround time. Even if your runs are less precise, the Jubbly Jive consistently outperforms salvaging or bounty tasks throughout this entire range.

This tier also rewards useful upgrade items. Fabric rolls, storm keys, and captured wind motes help you refine your skiff and prepare for even faster trials. Many players chain these upgrades as they level, allowing their XP rates to improve naturally as the boat becomes faster and more responsive.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Travel to The Jubbly Jive trial area and begin Swordfish rank runs
2. Complete Swordfish, Shark, and Marlin for large first-time XP boosts
3. Upgrade your hull, sails, and helm as soon as new schematics become available
4. Use whirlpools, wind trims, and tight angles to reduce run time
5. Repeat the trial for 40k–90k XP per hour until level 72

Once you hit level 72, you unlock the Gwenith Glide—the highest-tier trial and the definitive method to push from midgame into the final stretch toward level 99.

Levels 72–99 – Gwenith Glide Trials (Fastest XP in the Skill)

Level 72 unlocks the Gwenith Glide, the final and most demanding Barracuda Trial tier. This is the activity designed to carry you all the way to 99, offering the highest experience rates in the entire skill when performed with a properly upgraded vessel. Compared to earlier trials, the course is longer, tighter, and more unforgiving, but the rewards scale dramatically to match the increased difficulty.

Even a basic Gwenith Glide Swordfish run provides strong XP, but the real value comes from Shark and especially Marlin ranks. With adequate hull speed and sail acceleration, Gwenith Glide runs routinely reach above 100,000 XP per hour. With high-end upgrades like a crystal extractor, rosewood hull, and captured wind motes, experienced players can push well past 180,000 XP per hour, with top-tier setups hitting around 225,000 XP per hour on optimized Marlin routes. BLOG20

This tier also benefits heavily from trial familiarity. Because the course demands sharper angles, faster reactions, and efficient crate routing, each repetition improves your consistency. Upgrades continue to matter throughout this stretch; increasing boat speed or adjusting acceleration often has a noticeable impact on run times and overall experience.

A quick overview of what to do at this stage:

1. Begin Gwenith Glide runs immediately upon hitting level 72
2. Complete Swordfish, Shark, and Marlin ranks for large one-time XP bonuses
3. Upgrade your hull, sails, helm, and extractor as soon as materials allow
4. Use wind motes and trial boost mechanics to maximize speed during tight sections
5. Repeat Marlin runs for 75k–200k+ XP per hour until reaching level 99

Gwenith Glide is the natural endpoint of the Sailing leveling journey, offering the purest combination of speed, efficiency, and progression. With steady upgrades and consistent runs, pushing from 72 to 99 becomes smooth and predictable, marking the final milestone in the Sailing skill.

OSRS Sailing Rewards & Unique Unlocks

Sailing doesn’t just give experience; it unlocks systems, tools, equipment, and rare items that don’t exist anywhere else in Old School RuneScape. As you progress, your ship becomes a mobile base, new regions open up, and you gain access to powerful mechanical upgrades that permanently change how you navigate the oceans. This section highlights the most important OSRS sailing rewards and rare drops players can earn only through Sailing.

So, there are plenty of new and cool things to work on for sailing across the open seas, especially that OSRS sailing pet soup, the cute turtle.

OSRS Sailing Tips & Tricks

Sailing becomes dramatically smoother once you understand the systems behind your ship, crew, upgrades, and ocean mechanics. The skill gives you a lot of freedom, but many of its conveniences and optimizations aren’t obvious during early levels. This section gathers the most important tips from experienced players, streamers, and early-release discoveries to help you save time, avoid common mistakes, and upgrade your boat efficiently as you level.

Sailing rewards planning. Small improvements—like knowing where to stand during salvaging, which crew member to assign, or which hull upgrades actually matter—can noticeably increase your XP per hour. Other features, such as the keg system, crystal extractor, and early schematic unlocks, offer huge advantages once you know they exist. As you progress toward higher-level content like Barracuda Trials, these optimizations become essential.

Here are some of the most useful Old School RuneScape sailing tips to keep in mind:

1. Unlock the salvaging station at level 42 by digging near the Pandemonium cave and opening the Chin Champa chest
2. Complete Shark rank in the Temper Tantrum trial to unlock Whirlpool Surprise and build a keg for permanent +3 Sailing boosts
3. Boost your Sailing level to build higher-tier core parts (hull, mast, helm) for lasting speed and handling upgrades
4. Avoid boosting to build cannons, since boosted cannons do not function at all
5. Stand between two shipwrecks during salvaging to double your AFK uptime and reduce movement
6. Assign crew with high deckhandiness (3–4) to salvaging hooks for stronger passive XP
7. Upgrade the mast early, since better sails directly increase trim XP and wind mote XP
8. Skip hull upgrades that don’t increase speed; several tiers only add HP and waste materials
9. Use the boat rescue at any shipwright to teleport your boat instantly and speed up courier tasks
10. Build the crystal extractor at level 73 for 600 free XP per minute during any activity

These tips dramatically improve efficiency in every training method. Whether you're AFKing shipwrecks, optimizing courier loops, or grinding Barracuda Trials, using these tools early will make Sailing feel smoother, faster, and far more rewarding as you push toward level 99.

Conclusion

The Old School version of RuneScape has officially been promoted from the outdated version for nostalgic fans to its own project that gets exclusive content. Sailing is not just a new skill added in 18 years; all the oceans, seas, and islands to see - all of that is brand new content, and it is massive. You have plenty of sailing-adjacent activities to do, from simple hauler contracts to sea charting, naval combat, and much more. In this guide, we wanted to give you a glimpse of what’s actually hidden in this content update and give you a simple-to-follow leveling guide for this skill. Once you’re done, you’re free to roam around on your ship with your crew, discover new lands, and live a life of a true sea dog!

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