Under a star-lit sky and a kerosene lamp that flickered with the ocean current, a motley crew of sailors on the Pierius Magnus spent Sunday evening in Bermuda with friends and a little music.

But behind that peaceful image is the powerful story of how dreams can and do come true.

The long haired Capt. Arjen (Boogie) Van der Veen from the Netherlands and crewmembers Andreas Lackner from Austria and Carlos Miles from Mexico spent 13 days reaching Bermuda from Virginia.

But unlike travel on many modern ships with their many comforts, the Pierius Magnus was built without any modern day equipment.

It is part of the crew's plan take their ship building experience and translate it into helping others keep the spirit of sailing the oceans of the world alive.

Mr. Lackner said the ship took about six months to build with the assistance of many volunteers at the Michigan Maritime Museum. It was there in South Haven, Michigan that Capt. Van der Veen and co-builder Jorne Langelaan began crafting their dream.

The ship was fashioned in the Dutch tradition of flat-bottomed vessels and has no keel. There is a ballast located inside the ship and the entire vessel was made of natural wood, including the mast which Capt. Van der Veen said was cut down by hand .

The length of the vessel is 52-feet. It has a cargo capacity of ten tons with a rig height of 38-feet. The only modern equipment aboard is a hand held GPS (global positioning satellite) system and ship to shore radio. All navigation on the open sea is done by sextant and the stars.

The ship can hold eight crew members but has two bunks located at the stern of the vessel and two bunks located at the bow.

Capt. Van der Veen and Mr. Langelaan met at the Nautical College of Enkhuizer in the Netherlands and later sailed to Bermuda during the Tall Ship festival two years ago. While onboard they met Mr. Lackner. It was that experience which led them to their present journey.

Mr. Lackner said: "We came here during the tall ship race on the ship Eurpoa from the Netherlands. We had some troubled kids on the board - a few from St. George's.

"We saw them change in their "We saw them change in their minds, first they were aggressive and they wouldn't do anything. Within the four weeks that it took us to get from Europe to Bermuda they completely changed." For the crew, their aim is to reclaim some of history by travelling on the open seas as early sailors once did.

"Travelling on the ocean, you have to like it I think," said Mr. Lackner. "On a boat like this it is very much fun, but it's a lot of work. There's no automatic pilot, no engine, so we have to do it all. You cannot leave the boat alone, if there is two people here we have to spend twelve hours a day steering and changing sails."

As for returning to Bermuda, Capt. Van der Veen said: "I've fallen in love with Bermuda and wish I could marry her."

Reflecting on watching the ship go from drawing, to building, and finally sailing, Capt. Van der Veen said this was what dreams are made off.

"People said it wasn't possible to do, yet she sails. With determination you can do it. But when you believe in yourself you can go as far as you dream.

"Everywhere she goes she draws people to her and we have made friends for life."

Up next for the crew? Lackner said that they are heading for the Azores which they hope to reach in a month. From there they are bound for the Caribbean for some trading and business, where they hope to find funding for the construction of a second ship - a 65-foot vessel which they hope will be used to travel around the world.

Mr. Lackner added: "It's all about international communications, 'cause the crew is all international, and environmental education. It's about learning about the medium we live in. We visit, we can't use it and throw it away."

While they are planing to set sail tomorrow, the crew are still hoping to gather some interest in their next project. They are welcoming any donations as well as any new crew members who may want to set sail on the open ocean, minus a few comforts.