Though I think it has ben fixed since my 'younger pirate days' - my favorite stunt was to make the flagship a 'Ghost Flagship' - when a flagship first appears they need about 5 seconds to setup and start sailing - but if you can actually cripple them before that time is up - they become crippled - and start sailing anyway!
All of a sudden you see the 'gulls' start chasing and trying to hook this ship pulling away at full speed... going everywhere for 4:30 until the Boarding Timer run out LOL - fun to watch AND because the 'gulls' ran after it the space is nice and clear for the next one to appear
This is kinda messed up now with the Greyhound and the Bull in the same spawning spot (which I got to admit not really fair to the noobs... they get a shot of their first boarding a Bull then a Grey appears out of nowhere and blasts them away...)
But as many in my Guild know - my favorite AFK pastime is to sit on my War Frigate just off Devils eating RL Lunch / Supper - and watch the 'gulls' LOL