For many young African-Americans males in inner cities, the closest they will get to the water is by way of their bathtub, a local pool or an open fire hydrant. In Baltimore, MD, there’s no difference. But unlike most cities, this one has a body of water that spans from the downtown area into the Atlantic Ocean – The Inner Harbor.
Many young individuals from the Baltimore area enjoy hanging out in downtown Baltimore at the Inner Harbor. However, any thoughts of entering the harbor’s water are never considered because of the many objects that float in it and its depth which can be intimating.
Except for a 6-year old boy from Woodlawn, Baltimore named Donald Lawson.
“When I was about 6 years old, my mother made me go for a sailing trip with [the] Living Classroom Foundation in Baltimore, MD. They allowed me to steer the boat and that got my passion going,” Lawson informed via email. “Once I started, no one could stop my drive for sailing.”
Lawson, now 29, has taken his passion for sailing from an area that is dominated by athletes of the hardwood to a worldwide level of competition on the seas.
Lawson is the founder and CEO of Donald Lawson Racing incorporated and is a graduate of Morgan State University. Serving as a sailing instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Lawson understands that, like each professional athlete who practices hard and is serious about his or her craft, being in the water is important to being successful in sail racing.
“A lot of practice, classroom training, studying and practice,” said Lawson. “I know I said practice twice but it really comes down to that. The more time on the water, the better you will become.”
Aboard the “Open 60 Ocean Planet,” a race boat built by Bruce Schwab , Lawson sailed a 2,500 nautical mile passage, logged close to 15,000 nautical miles racing, delivered yachts and won countless races. Not bad for an athlete who is from an area where sailing was the farthest thought from the minds of young individuals as a way to make a living.
Baltimore is known for producing great basketball players and occasional football standouts. Through the vehicle of sports, many kids believe that athletics is their way out of a city with growing pains. Lawson was taught that sports, mainly basketball, was not going to be his ticket to greatness – although playing old school hoops is his passion as well.
“I played baseball (I wasn’t very good nor did I like it) and I played a little basketball. I have a passion for old school basketball,” said Lawson who is from the west side of Baltimore.
Lawson is among several African-American athletes who are excelling in sports where blacks, stereotypically, would not be successful or have any interest. Most noticeable among them are the Williams’ sisters (Venus and Serena with 82 career tennis wins, including 48 majors combined) and golf star Tiger Woods with 14 Major wins. Now, Tia Norfleet of NASCAR and Lawson are attempting to make strides in their respective sports.
Although Lawson feels it is unfair to be labeled as “The Tiger Woods” of his sport, he recognizes that the bar is set, thanks to Tiger.
“I feel like it is unfair to Tiger Woods for me to be called ‘The Tiger Woods of Sailing’ because Tiger has won so much,” said Lawson. “I have years and a lot of achievements to go before I am in the same sentence. But he is a bar I measure myself against.”
Along with Lawson’s numerous local, national and international awards, which required serious dedication, hard work, patience, and of course talent; he earned team Wild Card winnings in the prestigious Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Associations (CBYRA) Multihull Championship in consecutive years. Being recognized by The U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine as a “modern day technology leader” twice, Lawson is affiliated with the Universal Sailing Club; an organization for Chesapeake Bay based black sailors.
Lawson now has his sights set on the VELUX 5 Oceans race (originally known as the BOC Challenge), which is an around-the-world, single-handed yacht race requiring the use his own boat.
“I am unsure, but I am working towards other goals right now,” said Lawson when asked about when the ocean race begins. “We are working on acquiring our own race boat with the goal of competing in Major offshore races on the east coast and Caribbean.
“I would like to try as soon as next year, but it all depends on what boat we finally purchase and how soon we can work out sponsorship deals,” he continued.
Although Lawson has experienced many great accomplishments, it has not happened without some discrimination and setbacks. For instance, he has been excluded from team photographs, dealt with crewmembers not listening to him and prepping nicer boats only to be given a sorry boat on race day – that kind of good stuff.
Overall, the world of sail racing has embraced Lawson with open arms. It’s just the finances required to be competitive in the ocean that is the Morgan State graduate’s largest tidal wave.
“The sailing world has for the most part embraced me,” said Lawson. “They (the sailing industry) have been very supportive and understanding. That has allowed my growth to be so positive. You will always have those few people who are mean but for the most part, it has been great.
“The main challenge is that I am not wealthy and don’t own a boat so I have to borrow or sail other peoples boats.”
Lawson has no children, but may be inspired to have some little sailors running around soon. Currently in a great relationship, as Lawson has stated, he loves to play basketball, cook, play card games, build models, and not surprisingly, travel.
Lawson has experienced countless adventures… adventures that many African-American males will never have or who will be afraid to venture towards – especially those from the inner city. Breaking the stereotype of black men being fearful of the water and unable to swim was, at the very least, heroic.
Being on the open sea, Lawson has learned great lessons about life experiences, some of which could only be recognized by way of the ocean.
“[The sea] is the perfect example of life: you have no control over anything, you just have to do the best you can and pray that things work out,” said Lawson. “It is tough being totally independent from the world. But you get the freedom there you can’t get anywhere else.”