How do I control the direction of my boat while sailing?

The boat's direction is primarily controlled by interacting with the **helm or rudder**, which allows you to set a course by clicking on the desired direction on the mini-map or world map interface.

How do I increase the speed of my ship?

Speed is controlled by adjusting the **sails** (raising or lowering them) and utilizing favorable **wind currents**, which can be seen on the nautical interface.

Do I need a crew to move the boat?

While small vessels may not require one, larger boats require a minimum number of **crew members** (NPCs or players) to operate the sails and navigate effectively.

OSRS Sailing How to Move Boat Guide

© gamerblurb.com | Published on 11/19/2025 at 10:52 PM CST (USA)

Old School RuneScape (OSRS)

Sailing changes how you move in OSRS, so learning ship controls early makes the whole skill feel smoother. This guide explains how to steer, set your heading, and use speed tools without fighting the interface.

How To Move Your Boat

You move your ship by taking the helm and using the navigation interface. A white arrow shows the direction your ship will face, then you control speed with the up and down arrows to move forward or in reverse.

Core Ship Navigation Controls

Using the helm and arrow

First, board your boat and walk to the helm. Click the helm to enter navigation mode.

A white arrow appears around your ship, pointing toward your cursor. Click in the direction you want to go. Your ship rotates until it faces that heading, then you can start moving.

Speed control

Use the up arrow in the navigation interface to move forward. Use the down arrow to slow down, stop, and then reverse.
There is also a stop toggle that instantly halts your movement. It is useful when you overshoot a dock, wreck, or charting point and want to reset cleanly.

Trimming, Wind, And Speed

How trimming works

While sailing, gusts of wind appear around your sails. When you see the gust effect, trim the sails to gain a short burst of speed.

This boost lasts a few seconds and helps on long routes and Barracuda Trials. Better sails make this feel stronger and more frequent.

Wind catcher and wind mote

If you build a wind catcher on your ship, trimming still gives speed but less Sailing experience.

Instead, you gain a wind mote. Releasing the wind mote later gives a chunk of Sailing XP, which makes trimming more efficient over time.

Depth And Movement Limits

Shallow, open, and deep sea

There are three sea depths, shallow, open, and deep. Your boat stats decide where you can travel.

Low tier hulls move fine in shallow water but struggle in deeper areas. Stronger hull upgrades let you cross open and deep seas at normal speed.

When depth slows you down

If your ship feels heavy or sluggish in a new region, you might be trying to sail deeper water than your hull is built for.

Upgrading hull parts at the Shipyard improves how your boat handles in those seas and can remove movement penalties.

Weather, Currents, And Handling

Static currents and planned routes

Some currents are static and always flow in the same direction. Once you learn their positions, you can ride them for faster travel.

These paths matter on long courier runs and charting routes where small time saves add up.

Dynamic winds and rough seas

Dynamic winds and rough patches push your boat around. You might need more small course fixes using the white arrow.

Storm zones will slow your ship and damage it at the same time. Avoid sitting in storms too long or you risk sinking during a trip.

Ship Damage And Sinking

Ship hitpoints

Your ship has its own hitpoints separate from your character. Damage comes from storms, rocks, enemies, and harsh seas.

If ship HP reaches zero, you capsize, lose cargo in the hold, and get moved to the nearest port. You then have to recover the boat before sailing again.

Staying safe

Upgrade your hull when you start visiting harder oceans. Stay alert near rocks and obstacles on the map.

Keep repair kits ready once you start doing combat or high risk content at sea.

Final Blurb

Once you understand the helm, the white heading arrow, trimming, and how depth affects your speed, Sailing movement becomes easy. Rotate first, set your speed, respect the seas you are in, and your ship will feel reliable on every route.