To answer a few questions for you Swash:
a) Your last game had become inactive for some time - and was archived. All threads aftet a period of inactivity are archived.
b) A few things have changed since you've been gone - but here is a link to a Master Map And Guide list:
http://www.piratesonlineforums.com/f...ad.php?t=10265
And there under the Map Section you can get a fresh map (without the yellow lines).
That should get you underway.