06/17/2026
Sailor Spotlight: Robert Lawton Dewey
This week’s Sailor Spotlight features Robert Lawton Dewey, a 9-year-old sailor in the DIYSF Optimist Fleet.
Lawton has been sailing with the Davis Island Race Team for the past three years. Before joining the Race Team, he spent two summers in DIYSF’s Summer Learn to Sail program as a Shipmate, building the foundation that helped him grow into the sailor he is today.
When asked what he loves most about sailing, Lawton’s answer was simple: "everything".
One of Lawton’s favorite sailing memories came at the Gulf Coast Championships in March, when he finished first in a race. After crossing the finish line, he returned to Coach Alexandra Crow’s boat and saw just how excited she was.
“I think she was more excited than I was,” Lawton shared. “But I know I worked really hard and she helped me get there.”
Through sailing, Lawton has learned that conditions are not always perfect, and plans often need to change. Sometimes a sailor can control those changes, and sometimes the changes happen around them — especially when it comes to the wind.
“You can’t control the wind,” Lawton said.
That lesson is a big part of racing and sailing: learning to adapt, stay focused, and keep making smart decisions even when things do not go exactly as planned.
And a fun fact about Lawton: he goes to sleepaway camp for four weeks every summer and absolutely loves it. He is also a huge reader, especially when it comes to Harry Potter. Just make sure to clarify whether your trivia question is from the books or the movies — because Lawton knows they are different.
We are proud to have Lawton as part of the DIYSF community and excited to keep watching him grow as a sailor, teammate, and competitor.
