Optimal Sailing Training Guide: 1-50 Levels

Want to command a Sloop without the tedious grind? Our expert OSRS Services can power-level your Sailing skill for you. For those who prefer to captain their own journey, this guide cuts through the noise and provides the most efficient, step-by-step path to get you from level 1 to 50 Sailing as quickly as possible. Let's get started.

Phase 1 (Levels 1-20): The Questing & Charting Kickstart

The initial levels are all about leveraging one-time XP rewards from quests and sea charting to bypass the slow, early grind.

  1. Levels 1-4: Complete Pandemonium Your first and most important step is to complete the Pandemonium quest, starting at the Port Sarim docks. This instantly gets you to level 4 Sailing.
  2. Levels 4-10: Initial Charting & Port Tasks
    • Complete the sea charting option on the north shore near the cave at The Pandemonium.
    • Take your first Port Task from the notice board and deliver it to Port Sarim.
    • Sail south and complete the four easy sea charting tasks around the Wizards' Tower and Draynor Village bank.
    • Base yourself at Port Sarim and complete local Port Tasks. Always keep an eye out for interactable objects at sea like gusts of wind for small, passive XP gains.
  3. Levels 10-20: Karamja & Your Second Quest
    • At level 10, new routes open up. Start taking Port Tasks from The Pandemonium to Musa Point in Karamja.
    • Unlock the Lumbridge basin sea charting options (level 10 required): a corpse near the Gnome Glider island dock, a spyglass point near the Lumbridge west mine, and a treacherous rock east of the mine.
    • At level 12, tackle the Karamja sea charting tasks: the crashed gnome glider, a stone tablet near Musa Point, a spyglass point near the shipyard, and wreckage southwest of Tutorial Island.
    • Take two tasks from Musa Point back to The Pandemonium to start and complete the Prying Times quest (talk to 'Squawking' Steve). This quest will rocket you to approximately level 20 Sailing.

Phase 2 (Levels 20-31): The Mid-Game Push

Now that you have a solid foundation, it's time to upgrade your ship and expand your horizons to more profitable routes.

  1. First Major Ship Upgrade Go to a Shipwright and purchase a small boat. Immediately upgrade it with an Oak cargo hold, oak hull, and an iron helm. This setup is critical for the next phase.
  2. Charting the Northern Waters With your upgraded ship, head to Catherby with two Port Tasks from The Pandemonium. Along the way, complete the new sea charting options in the Rimmington Strait: a marker west of Crandor, treacherous rocks near the Crafting Guild, and a spyglass point northeast of the Karamja volcano.
  3. Levels 22-31: Catherby & Brimhaven Route
    • At level 22 Sailing, start the Current Affairs quest by speaking to Arhein on the Catherby docks.
    • Upon completion, you'll unlock Brimhaven as a destination (level 25 required).
    • Now, grind Port Tasks efficiently between Catherby and Brimhaven. You unlock a third task slot at level 28, which will speed this up significantly. Continue this route until you hit level 31 Sailing.

Phase 3 (Levels 31-50): Trials, Upgrades, and Quests

This is where your training transforms. You now have the levels and ship components to tackle high-XP methods.

  1. Second Major Ship Upgrade Before proceeding, upgrade your vessel with a Teak Hull, flags and trims, an oak mast with linen sails, and an Iron Keel. These upgrades are essential for the speed required in the Barracuda Trials.
  2. Levels 31-45: Barracuda Trials Dominance
    • With your upgraded ship, you are now ready for the Barracuda Trials. The first completion of each difficulty tier gives a massive chunk of XP.
    • Grind the trials until you reach level 40.
    • At level 40, perform another upgrade: install a Steel keel and Steel helm.
    • Hire your first crewmate, Jobless Jim, at The Pandemonium to help manage your ship.
    • Continue grinding the Barracuda Trials until you reach level 45 Sailing.
  3. Levels 45-50: The Final Push
    • At level 45, it's time to complete the Troubled Tortugans quest for another significant XP reward. If questing isn't your focus, our comprehensive OSRS Services can handle it for you so you can get back to sailing faster.
    • After the quest, a few more Barracuda Trials or high-level Port Tasks will be all you need to hit your goal.

Congratulations! You've reached level 50 Sailing in the most efficient way possible. You now have access to the Sloop and a massive part of the ocean to explore. The world is your oyster.

→ Now that you're a seasoned captain, dive deeper with our Ultimate OSRS Sailing Guide. → Want to skip the prerequisites and get straight to sailing? Our broad range of OSRS Services covers everything from questing to skilling. → Check out our full Questing Services to handle any required land-based adventures.