[url=http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Daggerfall:Reputation]http://en.uesp.net/wiki/Daggerfall:Reputation[/url]

I don't know anything about the Coast of High Rock region. Reputation is influenced by quests and donations (temples only), and by inactivity (it goes down over time, if you don't maintain it, and it may go up over time, if it is negative). For details, see the link above (for example, it contains a section about regional reputation).

It must be an odd region (quote from UESP Wiki):
"The High Rock sea coast is the region in the upper left corner of the overland map. It is the place where the ships of the player are anchored after being bought. Every time the player enters his ship via the Transportation-Menu, he will be sent to this area. One can actually travel from this location to any other location on the map, both in fast-travel mode and normally. However, it is not possible to travel to this location by any other means than by entering the ship, since the player's position, which is displayed on the overland map, is too inaccurate to be of real use for the orientation."

What do you do there: Get there by ship, leave the ship, walk around? Where do the guards come from?
I guess I'll have a look myself :-).

I get on my ship, enter the hull, and then start attacking the door with a weapon. After a few hits, there are guards coming after me.

Yes, it makes no sense, but then again, a lot about Daggerfall doesn't make sense.

:-)