Holger Bührle, a 58-year-old resident of Au, a town southwest of Freiburg, Germany, embarked on a daring venture in 1997 that has consumed his life ever since.

Driven by a dream to circumnavigate the globe, Bührle has dedicated the past twenty-five years to nearly single-handedly constructing his vessel.

He built his own 72ft ship in his front garden

Dubbed the "Hulg" after Bührle's own moniker, the boat will soon make its way to Breisch, a nearby town, where it will be hoisted into the Rhine River.

From there, Bührle's odyssey will begin, navigating the waterways of Europe until reaching Amsterdam, Netherlands, and eventually setting sail upon the North Sea.

For Bührle, this journey marks the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition to spend six years traversing the world's oceans.

The aspiring sailor started in 1997 and has spent £1million on the project

"I was always curious and wanted to understand everything around me," he shared with German outlet BILD.

Before embarking on this ambitious project, Bührle had been studying theology, but his passion for sailing ultimately led him to abandon his academic pursuits.

Unable to find a suitable vessel, he resolved to construct one himself, acquiring a blueprint from a designer in Bremen to kick-start the endeavor.

From meticulously welding aluminum plates for the hull to molding a keel from twelve tons of lead and adorning the interior with wood paneling, this former nightclub proprietor is on the verge of realizing his vision.

Holger Bührle plans to circumnavigate the world for six years on his homemade vessel

Trucks laden with aluminum, wood, copper cables, and fittings inundated his village, furnishing the makeshift shipyard where Bührle toiled tirelessly, often for up to fourteen hours a day, six days a week.

Yet, Bührle's foresight extended beyond craftsmanship; he enlisted several stakeholders to alleviate the financial strain of the undertaking.

Describing the Hulg as "an ocean-going yacht capable of independent navigation across the world's oceans for months at a time," Bührle ensured it accommodates up to six sailing enthusiasts comfortably.

Equipped with two diesel engines boasting a combined fuel capacity of 7,000 liters, the Hulg guarantees mobility even in windless conditions, while a desalination plant ensures a steady supply of fresh drinking water for its occupants.

The 'Hulg' is nearing completion

After nearly three decades of painstaking construction, Bührle's dream is on the cusp of realization, though he insists on perfection before setting sail.

"I've tinkered with the yacht for so long," he shared. "When she sets sail, everything has to be right."

Bührle has kitted out the interior to make it suitable for six people to stay on board

Bührle, who also managed the "Crash" nightclub in Freiburg for thirty years, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to finance the completion of the project, garnering €1,185 (£1,022) of his €4,800 (£4,142) target thus far.

After 27 years, the project is almost complete.

"You have to be a bit crazy to build your own boat," he acknowledged. "For some people, I'm the one with the crazy boat."

Buhrle's neighbours have called him 'crazy' for the project

Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that the vessel will be ready for launch this year, driven by the thrill of accomplishment and the anticipation of fulfilling his lifelong ambition.