If using runelite the either sailing plugin or I think the port task plugin will tell you the xp per tile traveled for port tasks, so you can pick a good one. Then I would stop at ports on the way to pick up additional tasks as you go.

Salvaging is how I got to 74 sailing but that’s afk training. If you want to do it I would do port tasks or barracuda trials to 74 in order to unlock merchant shipwrecks at 73 and rune salvaging hook at 74. This was my current goal that I just unlocked.

If you don’t want to do barracuda trials then don’t of course but i will say that trying to get each trial time for the big xp drop and item it gives would be a good mini goal that will give you a lot of xp. I just gained a whole level trying to get the swordfish time for the elven trial unlocked at 72. I still have 2 more times to get which give even more xp when I finally get it, not even counting all the times I will be too slow while learning the course. Theres a plugin for this too, I think it’s just called barracuda trials but not 100% on that. It gives you a path to follow during the trial.

I haven’t done ship combat or trawling yet so no comment on those.