A Russian family living in a tiny yacht anchored in Bermuda since June are today facing the prospect of either accepting a flight to their adopted home of Canada ? despite one of them having a fear of flying ? or setting sail for a potentially treacherous winter passage to Nova Scotia or alternatively head for the Caribbean.can reveal that the Department of Immigration is taking a firm line and has said the Bondarenko family must set sail by January 1 either to Canada or to the Caribbean if they consider the winter weather too dangerous for a northerly voyage.

The third option is to accept an Air Canada flight from Bermuda, but this seems unlikely as Marina Bondarenko is reported to have a "deep-rooted fear of flying" and has refused to board a place since temporary residency was agreed by the Canadian authorities

Time has run out for the Bondarenkos, who were given an exceptional five-month window to stay on the Island as their application to live in Canada was processed.

The family of four sailed their 37-foot yacht to Bermuda after being forced to leave Canada, where they had settled the previous summer following a 14-year voyage around the world.

The family had to be out of the country while necessary immigration paperwork was completed to allow them to become temporary residents of Canada.

Bermuda has played host to the family in the meantime, but now they must leave their anchorage at St. George's by January 1.

Vitaly Bondarenko has a job waiting for him in Nova Scotia and the family now have their temporary resident status and an offer to fly to North America.

The family's immigration lawyer Lee Cohen said the family, which includes the couple's two children, had been urged to get on a plane and be safe in Canada for Christmas only for Mrs Bondarenkos to reveal her fear of flying. The family has been urged not to attempt to sail to Nova Scotia during the treacherous winter months.

A Bermuda Department of Immigration spokesperson said: "Although the Bondarenkos did not have Bermuda entry visas, they were given compassionate leave to remain in Bermuda because of the condition of their boat and the very active hurricane season.

"The maximum period that a visitor can remain in Bermuda is six months. The limit of six months is legislated so there is no discretion to extend this period. The Bondarenkos have been here longer than six months and are now in Bermuda illegally."

The spokesperson said the family had informed the immigration department that they now have visas allowing them to return to Canada and so must leave by January 1, adding: "If their concern is the bad weather, we will certainly be happy to facilitate their travel to Canada on the next available Air Canada flight.

"Failing that, they have the option to sail to the islands to the south of us as many yachtsmen will normally do during the winter season."

Late-shift harbour watchman Bernard Oatley told the that the family appeared to have been totally self-sufficient and supporting themselves during the past six months.

"I say hello to them when I see them. They seem to be very nice people and they have a lot of friends in Nova Scotia. They have never mentioned sailing south."