Possible boss battle strategy
 

For those of you who are stuck on the boss battle now that its near impossible to do, here is my theory on how to do it now.

After taking down the officers, have everyone spread out so that you can take down the attack ships FAST. The more HP the Pearl still has at the end of the attack ships, the better a chance you have.

From there, focus on THE FARTHEST LEFT FORT. This applies to all of the groups of forts. Why? Because the farthest left fort is the one that is shooting the most guns at you when the forts fire. Take it down first, and you'll take less damage while taking out all the forts. That way, you have a better chance of making it.

Also, DO NOT just ignore the forts in the middle! They will rip the Pearl up like cheese graters grate cheese. (Ok, that was a bad analogy...)

If you manage to take out the 4th group of forts with your hp in the yellow (or green if you're lucky), don't sail out into the bay until the person steering has both Full Sail and Ramming Speed recharged. The Goliath has also had a damage boost, and will rip you to shreads if you don't get out of range of its broadsides. Once you sail out into the bay and the Goliath is across from you, USE Ramming Speed, and once it runs out, Full Sail. Hopefully you will be only in range of the frontal guns of the Goliath, which will only be able to shoot twice. The Goliath hasn't had a hull tuneup since the battle came back online, so pummel it with your hardest guns, and you should make it.

Good lock to you all.

Good advice my guild did the Boss Battle with me driving and i also have a tip. When the attack ships are sunk get all of your crew on the left cannons. Turn your ship to the port side facing the blocades, then when they fire at you just go forward, you should be near unharmed. And as you said take out the left bridge first it pummled us. We made it to the goliath but i didnt have ramming speed ready and we sunk...

Heres a tip on Goliath. Before going through the last bridges, take down his sails. You can hit him, but not sink him. Take off his sails and hes about as dead in the water as a bathtub