Skills in PotBS are essential. Every level you either gain one Skill Point (1) for Swashbuckling or one (1) for Ship Combat. When you hit level 50, you have 25 Skill Points for Swashbuckling and Ship Combat.
It's expensive to respect your skills (either with a Swashbuckling Skill Respec or Career Skill Respec) so choose wisely!
Look at Guides, PvP Guide or the Skill Planner for more information. Or ask a player ingame!
This information is provided by the update that PotBS Wikia is undergoing, by Captain Vuur.