How do you get elite ships on seafight

You first need to make sure that you have a Pearl Ship, you can purchess one of these for pearls or can bid on one in the bazaar with Gold. Once you do have a Pearl Ship you need to shoot Pearl Balls the more Pearl Balls you shoot the more points you accumulate. You can check as to what level ship you are currently on and change your ship class when in the Shipyards Elite Section.