Silk on the Waves is Naval Contract #8 in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Unlike most naval contracts, there is no enemy ship to sink or board here. Instead, you need to gather 30 Cloth from ships around Salt Key Bank and return it to the contract giver. This guide covers where to start the mission, the fastest way to collect the cloth, and everything you need to know to complete it.
- TL;DR
- Silk on the Waves is Naval Contract #8, unlocked at Salt Key Bank in the Dry Tortuga region.
- The goal is to collect 30 Cloth — any cloth already in your cargo does not count.
- Use the spyglass to identify ships carrying cloth before attacking them.
- Board ships instead of sinking them — boarding gives full cargo, sinking only gives half.
- No bonus objective on this contract. It pays a flat 1,200 Reales.
How to Unlock Silk on the Waves in AC Black Flag Resynced
Silk on the Waves is accepted from the man at the docks in Salt Key Bank, a small island in the Dry Tortuga region, east of Havana. The quest giver stands just to the left of the Harbourmaster at coordinates 466,608.
Naval Contracts unlock after completing the main quest This Old Cove in Sequence 4. After that, head to Great Inagua and speak to Milo at the docks to start the first contract, A Spanish Plague. Completing the chain in order will eventually bring you to Silk on the Waves at Salt Key Bank.
Nothing in the Naval Contracts is missable. You can complete Silk on the Waves at any point, including after the main story ends.
Silk on the Waves Objectives
- Main Objective: Collect 30 Cloth by sinking or boarding ships, then return to the contract giver.
- Bonus Objective: None. This contract pays a flat 1,200 Reales with no secondary reward.
There is one important catch: any cloth already in your cargo when you accept the contract does not count. You need to gather all 30 after accepting the job.
How to Complete Silk on the Waves
Step 1 – Accept the Contract at Salt Key Bank
Sail to Salt Key Bank and speak to the contact at the docks at coordinates 466,608. Once you accept the contract, the objective tracker activates and starts counting your cloth from zero, regardless of what you already have on board.
Step 2 – Use the Spyglass to Find Cloth-Carrying Ships
Leave Salt Key Bank and sail into the surrounding waters. Pull out the spyglass and scan nearby ships before engaging them. The spyglass shows you each ship’s type, rank, and cargo. You want to find ships that are carrying Cloth listed in their cargo.
This is the single most important tip for this contract. Do not attack every ship you see. Only go after ships that are confirmed to be carrying cloth. Attacking ships with no useful cargo wastes time and damages your Jackdaw for nothing.
Step 3 – Board Ships Instead of Sinking Them
When you find a cloth-carrying ship, damage it until it is incapacitated, then board it rather than sinking it. This is critical for speed.
- Boarding gives you the full cargo.
- Sinking without boarding only gives you half the cargo.
If a ship is carrying 10 cloth and you sink it, you get 5. If you board it, you get all 10. With only 30 cloth needed, boarding even three well-stocked ships can finish the contract. Sinking ships cuts your efficiency in half. For tips on keeping your Jackdaw in shape for repeated boardings, see our ship upgrade and customisation guide and our guide to farming metal and wood.
Step 4 – Check Burning Ships for a Shortcut
If you spot any burning ships nearby, they can be a useful shortcut. Burning ships often carry large amounts of materials, including cloth. The catch is that the spyglass cannot reveal a burning ship’s cargo — you have to board and loot the crates on deck to find out what they hold.
Some burning ships trigger a countdown timer once you board, so loot the crates quickly and get off before the ship explodes. Burning ships are not always reliable for cloth specifically, but if you are nearby and the fight risk is low, they are worth checking. Treat them as a bonus opportunity, not your primary strategy.
Step 5 – Return to Salt Key Bank
Once you have gathered all 30 Cloth, sail back to Salt Key Bank and speak to the contract giver again. He accepts the shipment and pays out your 1,200 Reales reward. The contract is complete.
Silk on the Waves Reward
- Contract Reward: 1,200 Reales
- Bonus Reward: None — this contract has no secondary objective.
Tips for Silk on the Waves
- Always scan before attacking. Using the spyglass to confirm cloth cargo before engaging a ship saves a huge amount of time. Never attack blind.
- Board, do not sink. You get full cargo from boarding and only half from sinking. This doubles your cloth income per ship and cuts the number of fights you need.
- Stay near Salt Key Bank. The surrounding waters usually have enough merchant and transport ships to find cloth fairly quickly. You rarely need to sail far.
- Check burning ships opportunistically. They can carry large cloth hauls but you cannot preview their cargo. Board fast and escape before the timer runs out.
- Upgrade your Jackdaw before starting. Better hull armour and stronger cannons let you board more ships safely without needing to stop for repairs. See our Great Inagua upgrades guide for the best early investments.
Other Naval Contracts Near Silk on the Waves
If you are working through all 15 Naval Contracts, here is where Silk on the Waves fits in the chain and what comes next:
- The Law of the Ocean – Naval Contract #7, unlocked at Havana. Ambush and board the Hercules brig.
- A Personal Matter – Naval Contract #6, unlocked at Crooked Island. Sink or board the HMS Defiance frigate.
- Blind Justice – Naval Contract #3, unlocked at Great Inagua. Board a British Man O’ War.
- Papers, Please – Naval Contract #4, unlocked at Great Inagua. Sink or board the HMS Courage.
- Eye For An Eye – Naval Contract #2, unlocked at Great Inagua. Board the San Lorenzo frigate.
- The Final Contract – The last Naval Contract, unlocked only after all 14 others are complete.
For the full list of all 15 Naval Contracts and their locations, see our complete Naval Contracts locations guide.
More AC Black Flag Resynced Guides
Looking for more help across the Caribbean? Here are some of our most useful guides:
- How to Beat All 6 Legendary Ships
- All Assassin Contracts Locations Guide
- All Mayan Stelae Locations
- Kenway’s Fleet Guide
- All Treasure Map Locations
- Legendary Ships Mortar Trick
- Crafting Guide
- All Animus Rifts Locations
- All Underwater Shipwrecks Locations
- Beginner’s Tips
- What to Do After the Main Story
AC Black Flag Resynced is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start Silk on the Waves in AC Black Flag Resynced?
Silk on the Waves is found at Salt Key Bank in the Dry Tortuga region, east of Havana. The contract giver stands on the dock just left of the Harbourmaster at map coordinates 466,608. Naval Contracts become available after completing the This Old Cove main quest in Sequence 4.
Does existing cloth count toward Silk on the Waves?
No. Any cloth already in your cargo when you accept the contract does not count. The objective counter starts at zero the moment you take the job. All 30 cloth must be gathered after accepting the mission.
What is the best way to get cloth for Silk on the Waves?
Use the spyglass to scan nearby ships before attacking. The spyglass shows each ship’s cargo, so only engage ships confirmed to be carrying cloth. When you find one, board it rather than sinking it — boarding gives you the full cargo haul, while sinking only yields half. Three or four well-chosen boardings can finish the contract quickly.
Is there a bonus objective in Silk on the Waves?
No. Unlike most other Naval Contracts in AC Black Flag Resynced, Silk on the Waves has no bonus secondary objective. It pays a flat 1,200 Reales for delivering the 30 cloth. There is no extra payout available.
Can I do Silk on the Waves after the main story?
Yes. Like all Naval Contracts in AC Black Flag Resynced, Silk on the Waves can be completed at any time, including after the main story is finished. Nothing in the Naval Contract chain is missable.
