You can shoot grapples from either side of the ship, or even from the bow and stern. As long as the hook hits the ring, it doesn't matter where you are.

I've even hooked one by shooting over someone in between me and the target.

Friggin' sea rats!
 

Aye, I have this problem too. Those blinkin' sea rats just start whalin away on MY FLAGSIP!!

'Mine, mine! Mine!'

No it's not you lilly-livered, land lovin', bilge rats! It's mine! Leave me to devour my kill! MMMMMIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Mwuah-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa! *Choke*cough*hack*cough*. Ahem. Mine.

o.O......*drops cookie and runs and hides from Aurora

Once a MONARCH either decided to wreak some havoc or had a bit too much to drink on board, because they were slaughtering people near DEVIL'S ANVIL. Being the good samaritan I am I pounded it down with my frigate, but alas I was alone. But, whoooooooaaaaaaa, as soon as I killed it, people SWARMED to it. It was like a huge magnet. Not just light sloops either, galleons and light frigates and whatnot.

So, why not? I boarded it. I managed to voodoo down the officers and veterans that came out, but there was a level 28 officer I believe, and I couldn't voodoo him to death in the 10 minutes I had before the ship sunk. =P

But WOW the crowd, I was literally lagging because so many people were broadsiding and cannoning it pointlessly. Was real annoying.

It's funny how none of them answer when you let that level 8 live for a bit so you can stand at the rail and ask just WHAT they're trying to accomplish.