Old School RuneScape Sailing Guide: How to Start, Train, and Master the New Skill
After years of anticipation, Sailing - the long-awaited new skill in Old School RuneScape - is finally ready to make waves. Jagex’s latest update introduces players to the open seas, new mechanics, and an entirely fresh way to explore Gielinor. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start your adventure, from completing the first quest to upgrading your very own ship. Whether you’re a returning veteran or a newcomer preparing to set sail, many adventurers choose to buy OSRS gold early to stock up on supplies, upgrade gear, and hit the water fully prepared.
1. Getting Started: The Pandemonium Quest
When the update goes live, you’ll begin your adventure with the Pandemonium Quest. To start it, speak with Willem on the Port Sarim docks. The quest serves as a hands-on tutorial lasting about 10–15 minutes, designed to teach you the basics of boat navigation without overwhelming you.
During this quest, you’ll earn your first bit of Sailing experience, unlock a raft, and gain access to the skill itself. You’ll also be introduced to Pandemonium Island, a central hub for Sailing where you’ll find NPCs, crafting stations, and other essential facilities.
Once completed, you can return to Pandemonium Island at any time - either by sailing back yourself or using a convenient NPC travel option from Port Sarim.
2. Visiting the Shipyard and Upgrading Your Vessel
After finishing the tutorial, speak to the Shipwright at Port Sarim to access your personal Shipyard. This is where you’ll build, customize, and upgrade your vessels. You’ll also find Shipwright NPCs in other major ports, marked by a new ship icon on the world map.
At level 10 Sailing, you can purchase your first small boat, but upgrading it will take resources. Prepare plenty of planks, bars, nails, flax, ropes, and even swamp tar. Like Construction, you’ll need your saw and hammer to perform upgrades.
Each ship has several upgradeable components - hull, sails, and keel - that improve speed, defense, and durability. Stronger ships can withstand storms and enemy encounters more effectively. As your Sailing level increases, you’ll also unlock new boards that make accessing shipyards easier.
3. Sailing Requirements and High-Level Materials
Some advanced ship upgrades require high-level skills, including 92 Construction, 94 Smithing, and 93 Cooking. You’ll also need Crafting and Farming to produce key materials - such as cotton sails (73 Crafting) and cotton plants (71 Farming).
High-tier wood types, like Ironwood and Rosewood, can be grown from seeds and harvested for elite ship parts. Rosewood, in particular, is expected to be extremely profitable during the first few weeks after launch.
4. Training Methods: How to Level Sailing
There are four main training methods for the Sailing skill, ranging from active exploration to laid-back AFK activities:
a. Sea Charting (Exploration)
Set sail and discover new territories across the ocean. Each new area you uncover grants Sailing XP. Use your Captain’s Log to track explored regions and monitor your active port tasks.
b. Port Tasks
Pick up assignments from ports like Port Sarim. These include shipping goods, battling sea creatures, or completing navigation challenges. Higher levels unlock multiple concurrent tasks and greater rewards.
c. Shipwreck Salvaging (AFK Method)
At the shipyard, build a Salvaging Hook to recover treasures from wrecks. Park your ship at a salvage site and earn passive XP and loot over time - similar to AFK Fishing. Upgrading your hook boosts both XP and rewards.
d. Barracuda Trials (High-Intensity Method)
For players who prefer active gameplay, the Barracuda Trials offer timed obstacle courses at sea. Completing each course rewards XP, and finishing one for the first time grants a significant XP bonus.
5. Crew Mates and Island Adventures
Once you reach level 45 Sailing, you can start the Troubled Tortugan Quest, unlocking the Great Conch Island - a vast new area with unique creatures and resources. Here, you’ll also recruit your first Crew Mate, NPC companions who help with tasks like steering, salvaging, or collecting loot.
Some Crew Mates have quest prerequisites, but they’re incredibly useful for efficient sailing.
6. Combat, Maintenance, and Advanced Content
From level 55 Sailing onward, you can explore distant seas filled with dangers like Frost Dragons and Aquinites, which drop materials for elite boat upgrades. Combat at sea uses cannonballs, now craftable faster than ever with a new furnace.
Hardcore Ironmen should bring repair kits crafted from planks, nails, and adhesives - these act like “food” for your boat, repairing it mid-voyage. If your ship capsizes, you’ll respawn at your last port with 1 HP, but your character won’t die unless you hit zero HP directly.
Final Thoughts
Sailing isn’t just another skill - it’s a whole new world to explore. From charting undiscovered islands and salvaging shipwrecks to battling sea creatures and unlocking powerful new upgrades, the open ocean offers endless opportunities. To make the most of your adventures, many players choose to stock up on essential supplies or upgrades using cheap OSRS gold, helping them prepare their ships and crews for the challenges ahead. Prepare your tools, ready your crew, and take command of your ship - because your journey across the seas of Gielinor is just beginning.