Sailing is one of the most efficient and interactive skills added to Old School RuneScape, and when trained properly, it delivers some of the best XP rates in the entire game. One of the strongest methods right now is completing ABA contracts—a loop of long-distance deliveries that consistently gives 120–150k XP per hour when executed correctly.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: what ABA contracts are, how to build your rotation, which levels unlock which ports, recommended plugins, useful boat upgrades, and how to maintain XP rates well over 100k/hour.

What Are ABA Contracts in OSRS Sailing?

ABA contracts are long-distance delivery tasks that start at:

A → B → A

Meaning:

• You pick up a contract at Port A

• It tells you to deliver cargo from a distant Port B

• Then return to Port A to complete it

This type of loop gives huge XP because Sailing rewards you based on the distance travelled. A perfect Sailing run involves stacking multiple ABA contracts at once, then completing them all in a single journey.

Getting Started – Your First Contract

For this example, everything begins in Rellekka, which acts as Port A.

1. Visit the Rellekka notice board

2. Look for a contract like:

  • Deliver cargo to Rellekka from Port Roberts

3. Accept the contract

4. Instead of sailing from Rellekka → Port Roberts, teleport directly to Port Roberts

5. Begin your route from the furthest port outward

This is the core trick: Always start at the furthest port listed in your ABA rotation to maximise travel XP.

Which Ports Unlock at Each Level?

Level Port Unlocks Important Notes

62 Rellekka Your first ABA source

65 Miscellania Adds more ABA options

76 Lunar Isle One of the best XP ports; huge contracts

At higher levels, more ports unlock, but more ports also mean more “bad contracts” can clutter your notice board. The sweet spot for consistency is once you have Rellekka, Miscellania, and Lunar Isle all unlocked.

Collecting Your Full Set of Contracts

You can hold five contracts at once. Your goal is:

• 3–4 ABA contracts

• 1–2 simple A→B contracts (to fill unused slots)

The Route Example

1. Start at Alderin (your furthest ABA pickup)

2. Travel to Fordis Colosseum

3. Then go to Port Roberts

4. Collect all cargo

5. Begin delivery loop to:

  • Lunar Isle

  • Miscellania

  • Rellekka

You want to fill as many slots as possible before you begin the "return route." Unused contract slots = wasted XP.

Useful Crew & Upgrades for Faster XP

Crewmates

At low levels, hire these two:

• Cabin Boy Jenkins – Carries 2 cargo

• Ex-Captain S – Also carries 2 cargo

More crewmates = more cargo = fewer mistakes.

Crystal Extractor (Level 73)

• Requires the Crystal Barrows Trial – Shark Time glide objective

• Grants 600 passive XP per minute

• Place it next to your helm for easy access during sailing

Wind Catcher (Jubbly Trial Reward)

• Gives extra ship speed

• Greatly improves your XP/hour over long journeys

Recommended Plugins

Two RuneLite plugins make this method significantly easier:

1. Sailing Plugin

Shows:

  • Missing cargo

  • Ship status

  • Route details

Prevents mistakes that ruin a run.

2. Port Task Plugin

Draws a path line on the map showing where to go next.

Not mandatory, but extremely convenient.

Completing the Loop

Once you have collected all your cargo:

1. Deliver at Lunar Isle

This port often gives 10.5k XP contracts, some of the best in the game. Example XP drop:

  • 3 contracts delivered → 18k XP in one stop

2. Deliver at Miscellania

Example XP drop:

  • ~4.7k XP for a basic ABA task

3. Deliver at Rellekka

Your final drop before resetting the rotation. Then:

→ Check the board

→ Collect new ABA contracts

→ Fill empty slots with A→B contracts

→ Teleport back to your furthest port

→ Repeat

XP Rates & Leveling Expectations

Levels 62–66

  • Extremely consistent ABA contracts

  • 80–100k XP/hour

  • Often better XP than Jubbly Jive

  • Both you and other players (like PIP) can easily hit 90–95k XP/hour

Levels 66–76

  • Unlocking Port Tyras adds contract clutter

  • XP becomes inconsistent

  • Expect fluctuations until you unlock Lunar Isle at 76

Level 76+

  • True ABA farming begins

  • 120–150k XP/hour possible

  • With great contracts, you can peak 200k+ XP/hour

  • Rare bad rotations still happen, but you consistently get 3–4 ABA tasks

Level 80+

  • Excellent stability

  • Nearly guaranteed 100k+ XP/hour

  • ABA contracts become extremely reliable

Extra Tips for Smooth Sailing

• Carry repair kits — some routes force you through aggressive NPC zones

• Always check every port for new ABA contracts

• More stops = easier to fill all 5 contracts

• Big boats are harder to dock on Lunar Isle — park deeper into the port

• Contracts refresh on a timer (exact duration unknown, likely 15–30 minutes)

Final Thoughts

ABA contract sailing is one of the highest-XP Sailing methods currently available in OSRS. With the right setup—crew, wind catcher, extractor, and proper routing. Once you learn the rotation, it becomes simple, fast, and extremely rewarding.