The fleet needs to be toughened up. One ship with just a crew of 5 or less is capable of defeating it.. 5 or 4 Juggernauts and 1 level 79+ ship isn't as hard as it sounds...
On another note, the ships don't attack you if you don't attack them (at least in a light sloop, which is good.. but if it is that way for War ships, etc... it might need fixing), and they even shoot, as well as sink skeleton ships. That saved me a few times
