Sailing launched on January 19, 2025, as Old School RuneScape’s first new skill in years. This members-only utility skill opens up vast oceans, 27 new islands, and exciting training methods including courier tasks, shipwreck salvaging, and naval combat. Players can customize boats, explore uncharted waters, and unlock unique rewards while progressing through this engaging skill.
This guide covers everything needed to get started with Sailing, from completing the introductory quest to reaching level 30. Whether you prefer active gameplay through courier tasks or AFK methods like salvaging shipwrecks, this comprehensive walkthrough will set you on the right course. By the end, you’ll be ready to tackle the Barracuda Trials and continue your journey to mastery.
What is Sailing?
Sailing is a utility skill that allows players to navigate the oceans of Gielinor using customizable boats. The skill features no strict requirements to begin, though it remains members-only content. Players must complete the Pandemonium quest at Port Sarim to unlock the skill and receive their first vessel.
The skill revolves around three core activities: courier tasks that transport cargo between ports, sea charting that explores new locations for experience, and shipwreck salvaging that gathers resources from sunken vessels. Additional content includes Barracuda Trials, deep sea trawling for Fishing experience, and naval combat against sea creatures. Gielinor’s waters are divided into nine oceans with multiple seas, each featuring unique hazards and requirements.
As players progress, they unlock larger boats with more customization options and crew slots. The Raft starts players at level 1, the Skiff becomes available at level 15, and the Sloop unlocks at level 50. Each boat can be upgraded with facilities like cargo holds, salvaging hooks, cannons, and trawling nets to enable different gameplay activities.
Getting Started: The Pandemonium Quest
To begin training Sailing, players must complete the Pandemonium quest. This quest has no skill requirements and starts by speaking to Will or Anne on the docks of Port Sarim. The quest serves as a tutorial, teaching fundamental mechanics like navigation, docking, and basic boat operations.
During the quest, players sail south through the Bay of Sarim until reaching east of the Karamja Shipyard. They deploy a salvaging hook to recover a mysterious medallion and old cup, which causes Anne to throw them overboard. After swimming to The Pandemonium, players complete a simple courier task delivering cargo to Junior Jim.
Upon completion, players receive their first boat (a Raft), a Captain’s Log, and 300 Sailing experience. This quest unlocks the entire Sailing skill and provides access to The Pandemonium, a central hub for sailors. The tutorial teaches enough basics to start accepting courier tasks and exploring the early game content.
Basic Sailing Mechanics
Navigation and Controls
The Sailing interface replaces the combat tab when players board their vessel. Navigation occurs by clicking the ship’s helm, which brings up directional controls. Players set their desired direction using a cursor arrow and control speed with up and down toggles.
The minimap displays your current location and nearby ports, making navigation straightforward for most journeys. Boats can only access certain areas based on their size and the sea depth, with three categories: shallow, open, and deep waters. Smaller vessels like the Raft can navigate shallow waters, while larger ships require deeper seas.
Boats have hitpoints that decrease from combat damage and environmental hazards. If a boat’s hitpoints reach zero, players capsize, lose any cargo, and must retrieve their vessel at a port for a fee. Installing defensive upgrades and carrying boat repair materials helps prevent costly capsizing incidents.
Trimming Sails
While sailing, wind gusts periodically appear around the sails. Clicking these gusts to trim the sails grants a 12-second speed boost and awards Sailing experience. This mechanic provides passive experience during any sailing activity, making it valuable for early levels.
Players can install a wind catcher facility on their boat for an alternative approach. The wind catcher halves the experience gained from trimming sails but generates wind motes instead. Releasing these wind motes grants 150 Sailing experience each, offering a different training method for those who prefer it.
Understanding Your Boat
Three main boat types exist in Sailing, each unlocking at specific level milestones. The Raft comes free from the Pandemonium quest and measures 1×3 tiles with 2 crew slots. Its small size limits customization options but allows access to shallow waters.
The Skiff unlocks at level 15 Sailing and costs 15,000 coins from any shipwright. This 2×5 vessel features 5 crew slots and enough space for meaningful customization. Most players build salvaging hooks and cargo holds on their Skiff to access shipwreck salvaging, the primary training method from levels 15 to 30.
The Sloop becomes available at level 50 for 200,000 coins. This massive 3×10 ship offers 5 crew slots and extensive customization potential. While outside the scope of early game content, the Sloop enables advanced activities like naval combat, deep sea trawling, and tackling dangerous ocean hazards.
Boat Customization
Players customize boats by speaking with a shipwright at major ports like Port Sarim, The Pandemonium, or Musa Point. Customization includes two categories: core parts and facilities. Core parts (Hull, Keel, Sail, and Steering) improve your boat’s fundamental stats using materials like Planks, Nails, and Cloth of various tiers.
Facilities occupy specific hotspots on your boat and enable different activities. A basic cargo hold requires 8 Planks and 32 Bronze Nails at level 1 Sailing and 1 Construction. Bronze salvaging hooks need 4 Planks, 16 Bronze Nails, 6 Bronze Bars, and 1 Rope to construct, unlocking shipwreck salvaging.
Other facilities include cannons for naval combat, trawling nets for fishing, wind catchers for alternative experience gain, and kegs for storing useful alcohols. Players need a Hammer, Saw, and required materials in their inventory to build facilities. Core upgrades also grant Construction experience alongside Sailing progression.
Training Methods for Beginners
Courier Tasks
Courier tasks form the primary training method from levels 1 to 15 and remain viable throughout the skill. Players accept these tasks from notice boards at most ports, initially having one task slot available. Additional slots unlock at levels 7, 28, 56, and 84, allowing multiple simultaneous tasks.
Each courier task requires transporting cargo from one port to another. Players deposit the cargo into their boat’s cargo hold, sail to the destination, and turn in the task at the ledger table. Experience scales based on distance traveled and the port levels involved, making longer voyages more rewarding.
Courier tasks also reward useful materials including logs, nails, and gems for shipbuilding. Accepting multiple tasks to the same destination maximizes efficiency. For example, taking two tasks from Port Sarim to The Pandemonium provides double rewards for a single journey.
Sea Charting
Sea charting provides one-time experience drops for exploring specific locations across Gielinor’s oceans. Port masters at most ports assign charting tasks, which require specific tools like the Spyglass, Crowbar, or Current Duck. The Spyglass can be withdrawn from any cargo hold, while the Crowbar requires completing the Prying Times quest at level 12.
Charting tasks involve sailing to marked locations and using the appropriate tool to complete the exploration. Some locations appear as shipwrecks, dead bodies, or mysterious markers on the water. Completing all charting locations in a sea grants an ocean completion bonus for additional experience.
Many players combine charting with courier tasks to maximize efficiency. The first time running a courier route between two ports, sailors can detour to nearby charting locations before reaching their destination. This strategy proves especially effective from levels 1 to 15 when courier tasks dominate training.
Early Quests
Beyond Pandemonium, two additional quests offer significant early Sailing experience. Prying Times requires level 12 Sailing and 30 Smithing, rewarding 800 experience and the Crowbar tool. This quest starts with Squawking Steve Beanie at The Pandemonium and involves crafting a special crowbar with Thurgo, fighting a drunken troll, and opening a sealed crate.
The Crowbar unlocks numerous charting locations that were previously inaccessible, making Prying Times essential for anyone pursuing charting as a training method. Players should complete this quest immediately upon reaching level 12 if they plan to incorporate charting into their leveling route. The 800 experience reward also provides a meaningful boost at this level range.
Current Affairs unlocks at level 22 Sailing with 10 Fishing, granting 1,400 experience. While outside the 1-30 scope, players reaching the early 20s should complete it for the experience boost and the current duck charting tool. Higher level quests like Troubled Tortugans require level 45 Sailing and multiple skill requirements but offer 10,000 experience.
Level 1-15 Progression Path
After completing Pandemonium, accept a courier task from The Pandemonium to Port Sarim from the notice board. Withdraw the spyglass from your cargo hold before departing. Follow the route north toward Port Sarim, stopping at charting locations marked along the way for one-time experience drops.
Remember to trim your sails whenever wind gusts appear around them. This passive experience adds up significantly over multiple voyages. Upon reaching Port Sarim, turn in the courier task at the ledger table and accept a return task if available.
At level 5, speak to a shipwright to move your boat to Lands End. Teleport there using the Rada’s Blessing or walk from the Kourend Woodland. Accept courier tasks from Lands End to Hosidius, following charting routes when available based on your current level.
At level 10, move your boat to Musa Point. Use an Amulet of Glory to teleport to Karamja or pay 30 coins for the ship from Port Sarim. Courier tasks between Musa Point and The Pandemonium become available, offering good experience for this level range.
Upon reaching level 12, immediately complete the Prying Times quest. Gather a Hammer (the Imcando hammer doesn’t work), Steel Bar, and Redberry Pie before starting. The quest unlocks the crowbar for additional charting locations and provides 800 experience, significantly accelerating progress toward level 15.
Continue courier tasks and charting until level 15. Prioritize tasks offering multiple destinations to the same port when possible. If you see two tasks both going to Port Sarim, accept both for double rewards on a single voyage.
Level 15-30 Progression Path
Building Your First Skiff
At level 15, purchase a Skiff from any shipwright for 15,000 coins. This investment unlocks shipwreck salvaging, the most popular training method from 15 to 30. Players must decide between a minimal salvaging setup or a fully upgraded Skiff for courier tasks.
For the minimal salvaging approach, only build a bronze salvaging hook and basic cargo hold. The hook requires 4 planks, 16 bronze nails, 6 bronze bars, and 1 rope. Combined with the cargo hold’s 8 planks and 32 bronze nails, this totals 12 planks, 48 bronze nails, 6 bronze bars, and 1 rope.
For a full combat-ready Skiff continuing courier tasks, gather extensive materials. Build the Wooden Skiff hull (10 Wooden hull parts, 300 bronze nails, 20 swamp tar), Bronze Skiff helm (3 planks, 6 bronze bars), Wooden mast with linen sails (10 logs, 40 bronze nails, 5 Bolt of linen), Bronze Skiff keel (10 Bronze keel parts), salvaging hook, and cargo hold. The 5 Bolt of linen requires processing 15 flax into Ball of linen at a spinning wheel, then combining 15 Ball of linen at a loom.
Building any boat components requires having a saw, hammer, bronze nails, and other materials in your inventory. Speak to a shipwright and select boat customization to access the building interface. Core upgrades grant both Sailing and Construction experience, making them doubly valuable.
Training Options
Three primary training methods exist from levels 15 to 30, each suiting different playstyles. AFK salvaging involves sailing to small shipwrecks and deploying salvaging hooks for low-intensity experience. The Kharidian sea east of The Pandemonium contains accessible shipwrecks until level 26, then players move to Fisherman’s Salvage west of Tai Bwo Wannai for the final push to 30.
Tick manipulation salvaging uses 2-tick methods similar to other gathering skills. Players use standard tick manipulation supplies like a knife and teak logs while salvaging for significantly faster experience rates. This method requires more attention but substantially reduces time to level 30.
Continuing courier tasks remains viable for players preferring active gameplay. Accept multiple tasks to the same destination when possible, and use charting routes at specific level thresholds for maximum efficiency. The level 15 purple route runs from Hosidius to Piscarilius, the level 20 burgundy route connects Rimmington to Catherby, and the level 25 pink route goes from Catherby to Brimhaven.
Most players choose AFK salvaging for its convenience. Dropping salvage loot rather than banking it speeds up the process in early levels, as the materials hold little value. At level 26, speak to a shipwright to move your boat to Brimhaven, then sail west to Fisherman’s Salvage for the remaining levels.
Level 30 unlocks the Barracuda Trials and bounty tasks, marking the end of the beginner phase. Ensure your boat has adequate upgrades before attempting the trials, as they feature obstacles and challenges requiring better stats. The Tempor Tantrum represents the first trial, with The Jubbly Jive following at level 55 and The Gwenith Glide at level 72.
Important Tips for New Sailors
Always trim your sails when wind gusts appear, regardless of your current activity. This passive experience accumulates significantly over time and costs nothing but a single click. Even players focused on salvaging should maintain awareness for sail trimming opportunities.
Be aware of aggressive NPCs near certain ports. Sharks around The Pandemonium will attack boats that sail too close, dealing damage to your vessel’s hitpoints. Give these hazards a wide berth until your boat has sufficient hitpoints and defensive upgrades to handle the damage.
Combine charting with courier tasks on your first voyage between any two ports. The charting locations offer one-time experience that adds up considerably across the early levels. After completing all charting along a route, subsequent courier tasks can take the direct path for faster completion.
Use object markers in RuneLite to mark charting locations visible from shore. This preparation saves time on release day by eliminating the need to search for specific locations. Yellow markers work well for distinguishing charting spots from regular scenery.
Fish offcuts for deep sea trawling can be prepared in advance. Cut lobsters or tuna for basic offcuts, or process sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and anglerfish for fine offcuts. While trawling remains a higher level activity, preparing these materials early prevents future gathering sessions.
Prioritize lead mining once you reach locations containing it. Lead may become a bottleneck material due to resource competition, especially in the early days after release. Gathering approximately 22 lead bars before level 47 ensures smooth progression when you need them for upgrades.
Port tasks unlock additional slots at levels 7, 28, 56, and 84. Plan your leveling to reach level 7 quickly for the second task slot, as running multiple courier tasks simultaneously dramatically increases efficiency. Three or four simultaneous tasks to different ports keeps you constantly busy with meaningful progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to start Sailing?
Sailing has no skill requirements to begin. The skill is members-only, and players must complete the Pandemonium quest at Port Sarim to unlock it. The quest requires speaking to Will or Anne on the Port Sarim docks and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
What’s the fastest way to level from 1 to 30?
The fastest method involves completing Pandemonium (300 XP) and Prying Times (800 XP), then running courier tasks with charting from levels 1 to 15. At level 15, build a Skiff with a salvaging hook and use 2-tick manipulation salvaging until level 30. Players preferring AFK methods should use regular salvaging at Kharidian sea shipwrecks.
How much does a Skiff cost and when can I buy one?
A Skiff costs 15,000 coins and becomes available at level 15 Sailing. Players purchase Skiffs from any shipwright at major ports including Port Sarim, The Pandemonium, or Musa Point. The Skiff measures 2×5 tiles and provides 5 crew slots for customization.
What materials do I need for a basic cargo hold?
A basic cargo hold requires 8 planks and 32 bronze nails to construct. Players also need a hammer and saw in their inventory. The cargo hold can be built at level 1 Sailing and level 1 Construction, making it accessible immediately after completing Pandemonium.
Should I build a full Skiff or just add a salvaging hook?
This depends on your preferred training method. Players planning to AFK salvage from 15 to 30 only need a bronze salvaging hook and cargo hold, requiring minimal materials. Those continuing courier tasks should build full core upgrades (hull, keel, sail, helm) for better speed and defensive stats during longer voyages.
What does trimming sails do?
Trimming sails grants a 12-second speed boost and awards Sailing experience. Wind gusts appear around your sails periodically while sailing, indicated by a visual effect. Clicking the gusts trims the sails for passive experience during any sailing activity, making it valuable throughout the skill.
When should I complete the Prying Times quest?
Complete Prying Times immediately upon reaching level 12 Sailing. The quest requires 30 Smithing and rewards 800 experience plus the crowbar tool. The crowbar unlocks numerous charting locations previously inaccessible, making it essential for players incorporating charting into their training route.
Can I lose my boat permanently?
No, boats cannot be permanently lost. If your boat’s hitpoints reach zero from combat or hazards, you capsize and lose any cargo aboard. The boat can be retrieved at any port for a fee, which scales based on the boat’s value and upgrades installed.
