An important exhibit is stolen from the Royal Museum of Arts. The watchman Fuchs, a gambler, has been blackmailed by a mafia boss, who is also Chief of a Yacht Club, to steal the statue of Venus. The time of the theft was linked to an international regatta so that Fuchs could smuggle the stolen goods out of the country. A Soviet naval school teacher and former sea captain, Wrungel, receives a telegram asking him to participate in the regatta. He and his apprentice Lom (Лом - rus. "Crowbar") decide to set sail for the starting port. During a bizarre accident, the first two letters of their ship's name fall off, which changes their ship's name from "POBEDA" (ПОБЕДА - rus. "Victory") to "BEDA" (БЕДА - rus. "Trouble"). Throughout almost the entire journey, Wrungel and Lom have no idea about the hidden purpose of the regatta. At that point in time, everything is going smoothly and according to plan for Fuchs. Many newspapers of the world have written extensively about this "crime of the century". The Regatta is in danger of cancellation.