Therese McNulty, the brilliant daughter of Mac McNulty, learns that her father has been kidnapped, his soul transported into the body of a sailor on board the long lost ship, The Flying Dutchman. Joined by her college friend and roommate, McKenna, Therese leads a search for the ship off the Cape of Good Hope at the Southern tip of the African continent. As they search they find their way hindered by a seaman whose unique mental ability has held the ship in thrall for more than four centuries. Joined by three other Cymreigs, Therese and her friends fight their way to the south and through dreadful weather and conditions in hope of rescuing Mac from a dreadful lifetime fate. Meanwhile Mac, still in possession of his faculties, devises a way to kill the Captain of Hollander whose rash cursing of God had plunged the ship into a frigid hell of despair and violence. When the Captain dies, Mac takes command and tries to save the rotted hulk. As Mac and the others return to Capetown, they find that the rogue Cymreig has no intention of helping them. A battle of wills ensues, climaxed by a fight in the freezing waters off the Cape.
