Doffy is also someone who bend the knee to a yonko. Same for jimbei.
Yes but he's entering the sea whenever he pleases for years now and behaves like he owns the place
Note, with a single sail and only candles he has zero opportunity to outsail anybody. Anybody. We're not talking about doffy who flies the way from DR to PH high up in the air where he can escape to the heights from everyone. The distance is a stone's throw anyway (reached within hours).
Doffy stood not far away from his boss kaido, for protection. Kaido and his ruffian gang stood far away from Mihawk, for protection.