Sailing has finally arrived in Old School RuneScape, and with it comes an entirely new way to explore Gielinor. After spending a full day testing the skill at release, many players now have a better understanding of how early-game progression works, what activities give the best experience, and how to get from the first few levels into the more engaging content. If you’re just getting started or haven’t had a chance to dive in yet, this guide will walk you through quests, training methods, ship customisation, and all the commonly asked questions new sailors run into.

Whether you’re looking to fast-track your early levels or simply want to understand what the skill offers, this guide will help you chart your course. Having enough RuneScape gold can be a great help to you.

Early Game Experience Improvements

Following player feedback, Jagex boosted early-game Sailing XP—specifically from levels 1 to 30—by roughly 20%, making the introduction far smoother. Many players initially felt the early grind was slow, but this adjustment now places Sailing more in line with other skills. Level 1–30 in OSRS has always been a slower stretch for almost every skill, and Sailing is no different, but it’s now much more manageable.

How to Customise and Upgrade Your Ship

One of the first questions new players ask is how to properly customise their ship. The tutorial introduces interior facilities, but it glosses over the exterior components.

As you progress, you unlock new ships:

Level 1: Raft

Level 15: Skiff

Level 50: Sloop

These upgrades dramatically improve your speed, cargo capacity, and available facilities.

Upgrading the Exterior

To modify the outside of your ship, interact with the upgrade board west of the dock. Here, you can enhance:

Hull – The body of your vessel

Keel – The structural spine of your ship

Helm – Steering capability

Mast & Sails – Speed, maneuvering, and aesthetics

Each component has Sailing and Construction requirements, as well as material costs.

Gathering Materials

Hull & Keel Parts: Craft at the workbench north of the dock or use anvils across Gielinor.

Sails: Spin flax, hemp, or cotton at spinning wheels.

Ironmen: A port with a nearby bank (like Port Gadzard) is ideal for crafting your parts quickly.

Early Sailing Quests (Levels 1–45)

Questing is one of the fastest ways to skip early levels and unlock Sailing tools.

1. The Pandemonium (Level 1–5)

This is your starting quest and Sailing tutorial. It teaches basic navigation, facility building, and leaves you with your first raft.

2. Prying Times (Level 12)

Requires: redberry pie, steel bar, hammer

Teaches you how to pry open floating crates with a crowbar and rewards enough XP to reach Level 15, unlocking the skiff.

3. Current Affairs (Level 22)

A lore-rich quest that unlocks ocean current charting. Finishing it brings you to Level 24 and is required for certain sea charting activities.

4. Trouble Tortugans (Level 45)

Takes you to the Great Kunch, introduces the Tortugan people, griffin creatures, and coral nurseries—a new Farming training option. Completing this expands your exploration options significantly.

Training Methods: What Unlocks When

Sailing offers multiple training routes, each serving different play styles.

1. Sea Charting (Exploration Method)

Not a primary XP method, but every action grants small bursts of experience. This includes:

Using a spyglass on glowing ocean spots

Opening abandoned crates with a crowbar

Following currents with a dock

Documenting weather for trolls

Solving mermaid riddles

Great for exploration and occasional XP while discovering the map.

2. Port Tasks (Level 1+) – The First Main XP Method

Port tasks are your bread-and-butter early on: transport cargo from one port to another. XP depends on:

The task level

The distance between ports

WARNING: Avoid early tasks that go to Zea or other dangerous long-distance routes. Early-game travel can take 10+ minutes and passes through areas with aggressive sea monsters like krakens and sharks. Stick to nearby ports for safer, faster XP.

3. Bounty Tasks (Level 30+)

You hunt aquatic creatures for special drops that must be returned to the port master. The catch:

Drops are not guaranteed

Combat is slow unless using a cannon

Cannon kills Grant Sailing XP

These tasks can be profitable, but they aren't the fastest XP source.

4. Shipwreck Salvaging (Level 1+, Early AFK Method)

If you prefer minimal effort, salvaging is the ultimate AFK method.

How it works:

Sail to a cluster of shipwrecks.

Identify the “active” wreck—usually the one with more debris or a taller mast.

Park your boat and use your salvaging hook.

Collect items until your cargo and inventory fill.

Return to a port to identify materials for loot and XP.

You also gain experience when identifying salvage.

At Level 42, you can unlock a salvaging station on your ship, allowing you to sort items without returning to a port.

5. Barracuda Trials (Level 30+) – High XP, Low Profit

These are the Sailing equivalent of agility courses: fast XP but little to no profit. Each trial offers three timed challenges—Shark, Swordfish, and Marlin.

Current Trials:

Level 30: Temper Tantrum

Level 52: Jubbly Jive

Level 72: Gwenneth Glide

Beating each time for the first time grants huge XP rewards. Having enough OSRS gold can greatly help you pass the levels easily. Many mid-level players spend most of their time here due to the excellent experience rates.

Crewmates (Level 40+)

At level 40, you can begin hiring crew. Different crew members excel at different tasks—navigation, salvaging, or handling. Larger ships can host more crew, and they make a big difference for:

Port tasks

Salvaging

Combat encounters

However, the crew cannot accompany you into the Barracuda Trials.

Early-Game Roadmap (Levels 1–30+)

A quick levelling path summary:

1–5: Complete The Pandemonium

1–12: Do port tasks

12: Complete Prying Times → Jump to Level 15

15–22: Port tasks or salvaging

22: Complete Current Affairs → Level 24

24–30: Continue tasks or salvage

30+: Unlock bounty tasks and Barracuda Trials

This mix gives you a clean, smooth early progression into the core of the skill.