A few tips for new players who want to avoid PvP.

Use one of these

like so
to spot this heading toward you
https://news-g2a-live.s3.amazonaws.com/app/uploads/sea_of_thieves.jpg
and especially this heading toward you
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/O5lTDJ4JWKQ/maxresdefault.jpg
Then make like this guy and bravely run away
Actual useful tip: sloops sail faster than galleons when sailing against the wind.