@harlton-cheston hiya, i don't consider myself good at PvP even tho i do pvp occasionally late at night with a friend.. but what helped me yesterday was more of me looking always around me, and it happened quite a few times that other pirates were going my way.. but i wasnt giving them the chance that they needed to get close enough to me to do any significant damage to me i simply kite them around until they give up simply.
when you are on a sloop and galleon are going your way, the real trick that i figured out was simply going in circle around a big islands, since they seem to struggle more with changing direction and usually they will throw themselves in the water to try to get to your sloop to drop anchor... which is smart but at the same time it makes the galleon slower with the sails..
i dont really fear any ships trying to hunt me down, i dont remember one of them being able to figure out how im sailing they arnt able to cut the angle properly when im trying to go away, they usually give up with time. but maybe im simply lucky also, i didnt needed the reputation with the gold order so that also gives me some kind of stress-free environment.. maybe this can help you or anyone, im sorry this is not my first language..
but for those that simply enjoy PVE and don't want to encounter PVP pirates.. the real trick is always keep a very good distance between you and them, take off the sail where you want to park your ship and remove the anchor after before leaving your ship this way if somehow someone sneak near you, you can still have a good amount of time to just drop the sail and move, my ship is always ready to move when i pve alone, i play mainly alone, so i discovered alot of little "details" that is making me survive i guess,
sorry for my long message,
i wish you a wonderful day