I use mouse to control which way the 3rd person view is looking while sailing, u can get 360' view, good for scouting out ships and islands without changing direction.
Can't say i've ever noticed whether screen changes from being at front each time u start to move off again after initial launch.
Dunno if this is a bug or not, im so used keeping view frontal with mouse while moving, from other games, so doesn't bother me in slightest, as i said above, i like the free look aspect for finding things off angle.
I spose its possible they will put a view setting in so u can fix it, at some point.
'Keep it Kool
'