Guide

OSRS Sailing Crewmates – How to Unlock, Assign, and Optimize Crews

Learn how to unlock, assign, and optimize crewmates in OSRS Sailing for the best sailing experience. Get tips and strategies to improve your crew efficiency. Updated December 2025.

Last updated: 2025-12-05

Old School RuneScape’s (OSRS) Sailing update introduced a thrilling new way to explore the vast seas, and a key part of this feature revolves around managing your sailing crewmates. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a newcomer to this skill, understanding how to unlock, assign, and optimize your crewmates can greatly enhance your sailing experience and efficiency. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get the most out of your osrs sailing crewmates.

What Are Sailing Crewmates in OSRS?

In the world of OSRS, sailing crewmates play a pivotal role in your voyages across the seas. These companions assist in various ship-related tasks, from navigating the waters to fighting off sea monsters. Each crewmate brings their own unique abilities to the table, and learning how to properly utilize them is essential for maximizing your sailing efficiency.

Why Should You Care About Sailing Crewmates?

Managing your sailing crewmates efficiently is key to unlocking the full potential of the Sailing skill. They are essential for completing missions, gathering resources, and improving your sailing speed. As with any skill in OSRS, the more you understand how to leverage your resources, the better your results will be. Plus, certain crewmates can make difficult tasks significantly easier, saving you time and resources.

How to Unlock Your Crewmates

Unlocking your sailing crewmates is the first step to mastering this new aspect of OSRS. To get started, players need to complete a series of quests or tasks that grant access to these valuable allies. Depending on your level and progress, different crewmates may become available as you continue your journey.

Here are the basic steps to unlock your crewmates:

  1. Complete the Initial Sailing Quests: To start unlocking crewmates, you'll first need to progress through the early stages of the Sailing skill. Completing quests such as The First Sail will introduce you to crewmates and unlock the first few companions.

  2. Reach Higher Sailing Levels: Some crewmates can only be unlocked by reaching certain milestones in your Sailing skill. Make sure to level up your Sailing as quickly as possible to gain access to better crewmates.

  3. Complete Special Tasks: Certain tasks or challenges in the Sailing skill will reward you with new crewmates. These tasks often require specific actions, such as salvaging shipwrecks or navigating through dangerous waters.

Assigning Crewmates to Your Ship

Once you’ve unlocked your osrs sailing crewmates, the next step is assigning them to your ship. Properly assigning crewmates to the right roles is crucial for maximizing your ship’s efficiency. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Identify the Role of Each Crewmate: Each crewmate has a unique role, whether it’s navigation, combat, or resource collection. Some crewmates are better suited for certain tasks, so it’s essential to place them where they can make the most impact.

  2. Assign Crewmates Based on Skills: When assigning your crewmates, take note of their individual stats. For instance, if you need someone to assist with combat during naval battles, make sure to assign a crewmate with high combat skills. For resource gathering, choose crewmates with higher proficiency in gathering materials.

  3. Balance Your Crew: Don’t overload your ship with just one type of crewmate. A balanced crew that covers all areas—combat, navigation, and resource collection—will make your sailing journeys more successful and less stressful.

Optimizing Your Crewmates for Maximum Efficiency

Optimizing your sailing crewmates is about more than just assigning them to the right tasks. You’ll also want to make sure they’re properly equipped and working in synergy with one another. Here are some tips for optimizing your crew:

  • Upgrade Crewmates’ Gear: Just like your ship, your crewmates benefit from upgrades. Equip them with better gear to improve their effectiveness in their assigned roles.

  • Train Your Crewmates: Over time, crewmates can level up their skills. Focus on leveling up the key abilities that will improve your sailing performance. For example, crewmates who specialize in combat should be trained to enhance their attack and defense skills.

  • Prioritize Synergy: Some crewmates work better together than others. Experiment with different combinations of crewmates to find the best synergy for your sailing missions. According to feedback from the community, certain combinations can drastically improve efficiency.

  • Keep Your Crewmates Happy: It’s important to keep your crewmates happy to ensure they perform at their best. This can be done through various means such as giving them rest or providing items that improve morale.

Tips for Managing Your Crewmates

  1. Don’t Overload Your Crew: While it may be tempting to assign all your crewmates to the ship at once, having too many crewmates can reduce their individual effectiveness. It’s often better to focus on a few strong crewmates rather than trying to manage too many.

  2. Monitor Their Performance: Keep an eye on how your crewmates are performing during each mission. If certain crewmates are underperforming, it might be time to reassign them or replace them with others who better suit the mission at hand.

  3. Utilize Special Abilities: Some crewmates have special abilities that can turn the tide of battle or speed up tasks. Make sure you’re utilizing these abilities whenever possible to gain an advantage.


This video provides a detailed walkthrough of the best Sailing training methods, including tips on managing crewmates for optimal efficiency.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I unlock OSRS sailing crewmates?
A: To unlock osrs sailing crewmates, you need to complete initial quests and progress through the Sailing skill. Some crewmates are unlocked as you reach higher Sailing levels or complete specific tasks.

Q: How can I optimize my sailing crewmates?
A: To optimize your sailing crewmates, assign them based on their strengths, upgrade their gear, train them, and make sure they work well together for maximum efficiency.

Q: Are there any specific crewmates that are better for combat?
A: Yes, some crewmates specialize in combat. It’s essential to assign them to tasks that require defense or attack, especially during naval battles with hostile creatures.

Q: How can I ensure my sailing crew performs efficiently?
A: Keep your crewmates happy, upgrade their gear, and ensure you balance their roles effectively. According to community reports, optimizing their synergy and performance is key to maximizing their potential.


For more tips on Sailing in OSRS, check out our OSRS Sailing Trials and OSRS Sailing Plugins articles.

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