The current state of matchmaking needs work and will be better when control of open ship slots is granted. Rare has confirmed this feature for a near future patch. It will definitely smooth out the experience when trying to get all your mates aboard who sign on and are available at different times.
What I would like to see is a specific mode of play (servers) where you can follow your friends ship to the same instance. Now this mode of play will be "unbalanced" because sometimes 4 mates on a galleon and 2 mates on a sloop who know each other will team up and wreak havok. Other times, it would be a great fun to hunt down your 4 mates on the galleon and ruin their day.
So when you log on and most of your friends are on a voyage already, you have a choice to make. Either jump with the general players on the open seas or follow your buds to rob, sink or led them a hand.
