The first tip I have is make sure you're starting from the second bonfire. It drops you very close to the entrance to the rotten. Just make a run for the fog door and patch yourself up before you enter if necessary. As for a strategy on him, it would depend on your build. I usually run a tank with an UGS. I just try to circle behind him while blocking until he is misses an attack, and then I 2 hand attack the ship out of him. He's really not too hard. Just make sure you have a good shield, or are good at rolling. None of his attacks are anything too difficult to block/dodge.