In order to win the hand of the beautiful Mina Thadd, the two young captains Simon Simonsen and Jörgen Mensing enter into a bet: Mina’s father will give his daughter’s hand to the one who returns from the Caribbean with the most valuable cargo. While Simon’s journey is a success, Jörgen suffers a shipwreck and loses almost all his crew. However, back in Hamburg he succeeds in giving Simon the blame for his accident and marries Mina. Between the men ensues a rivalry with deadly consequences, which will even determine the fate of their grandchildren.