There is this group mission known as Red Tide that is activated in the starting town and quite frankly, for such a low level mission, it drops quite decent loot! It highly recommends 4+ people (after all- you will be fighting 11+ ships at once and have multiple objectives to complete on opposite sides of the map... if one of these is failed (both are on a relatively short timer, you lose!) - I recommend this strat and one person!
(Wolverine's Banner (+5% Morale Recovery) and another General Cannon item that gives +4% Reload time and +3% Range, among other ::nice:: items)
The issue is, it is impossible to solo at lower levels when these items are still very useful. This is the methodology to accomplish just that!
What is needed:
A lower level Frigate (Mainly you are after the decent DR and dual deck of cannons, honestly, any ship works with a little finesse)
Cheap +Reload gear
A little bravery and dexterity
Strategy:
When you spawn you will notice an entire fleet of ships coming in past you, all low level. If TWO of these make it to the exit point, you lose! the issue is they don't stop to attack you, they just keep making a run for the exit.
Also, in the distance about 900 yards away, are two ships killing the fort that you have to protect.
Start off by charging into the group of ships heading to the exit. The goal here is to damage them by about 50 armor- once this is done they will immediately stop heading toward the exit and turn to face you. Charge into the group and begin to fire SINGLE cannon batteries at each of the ship. One battery per ship. You don't want/need to kill them (yet), you just want to get their attention.
Hit all 11 ships with one round of cannon fire each (or 10 ships- remember, one can escape. Use ONE battery of cannon fire each. The goal is to tag as many as you can as quickly as possible) and begin to immediately run for the fortress. All 11 ships should now be following you like a swarm of bees. Get a few screenshots so you can show the guildies and laugh a bit as you go towards your fort. You should make it there as it is almost dying. Position yourself between the fortress and the incoming ships and kill the fortresses two attackers.
Now is the fun part- it is you vs 11 little ships. The more firepower you have packed into your ship the more quickly and safely this goes! A good level 27+ Frig can easily three-four shot the little guys. If you get in the middle of them you can take out a ship on each side of you! Ideally, this is completed with about 3 minutes left. Run into the fortress and take back the fort (let this step take a while so your fort heals).
Defeat the boss and his two escorts (a VERY easy fight) and loot him

Mission accomplished!