After battling the winds and fog of the North Atlantic a Russian family arrived in Bermuda yesterday in the yacht they have been sailing around the world in for 14 years.

The Bondarenko family of Vitaly and Marina and their two children Ivan, 12, and Vasily, 6, are in Bermuda as they wait out a fateful decision by the Canadian Immigration authorities.

In their 37 foot yacht the Viajero, the family cleared Customs at the yacht reporting centre in St. George's and weighed anchor in the harbour to recover from a seven-day journey.

The Bondarenkos have sailed from Nova Scotia and hope to stay on the Island while their lawyer in Canada files paperwork that will allow them to settle in the country for good. Under the law as soon as the family left Canada the application for residence can begin once they arrive in another country.

Last week Chief Immigration Officer Martin Brewer told The Royal Gazette the family will be given 21 days to stay in Bermuda, and can then apply for an extension under the law. The longest they will be allowed to stay would be five months.

As of Press time last night The Royal Gazette was unable to reach Dr. Brewer for comment and an update on the family's situation.

According to stories in the overseas media, Canadian authorities estimate it will take several months for the family to obtain the necessary documentation. Yesterday afternoon The Royal Gazette went out to the Viajero to visit the Bondarenkos.

"We're good people, we just need some help, we are just asking to be able to stay here while the paperwork is being taken care of. Please give us permission to stay here until this is done," said Mr. Bondarenko. The family are able to leave the boat to get groceries and replenish supplies, but their boat has been taking on water and they are in need of a bilge pump.

Originally from the Saratov region of Russia, the family are fluent in English and have travelled all over the globe in the small yacht, with only a little bit of money and the dream of adventure.

They have changed boats several times and have been everywhere from the Islands of the Pacific and the Caribbean to the Panama Canal, Australia, and South Africa.

Last July the family arrived in Nova Scotia to make repairs and replenish supplies. However, they settled in the seaside town of Lunenberg and decided that they had had enough of life at sea.

Last week Canadian authorities gave the family the chance to apply for the documentation that will allow them to return and start a new life. Previously, the Immigration had given the family an exclusion order meaning they had to leave for 12 months, but at the last minute the order was lifted.

Despite their circumstances, Mr. and Mrs. Bondarenko said they are the kind of people who have built a sturdy character after life at sea. "We have done this out of a sense of adventure, everyone can do this, even in a small boat with a little money you can do this if you have an iron will," said Mr. Bondarenko. "This was the dream for my life and I went out and made it happen, my wife followed me."

"And my dream is to be with him," said Mrs. Bondarenko, an English teacher. The couple have battled hurricane force winds in the Indian Ocean and in the Atlantic during storms which have sunk other boats. "We fight all the time, not mother nature, we fight to stay afloat," said Mrs. Bondarenko.

Throughout their travels she has schooled her two children Ivan and Vasily onboard the boat. They had some real lessons in life recently during the week- long trip that required the family to work together to make sure they all arrived safely.

"We were very nervous during the trip, we went through fog that was as thick as milk, we have no radar so it was difficult to see where we were going, your eyes become very red at night from straining to see through the fog," said Mrs. Bondarenko.

They are asking the Government and the community to be patient and allow them some time to sort out their situation. "We like Bermuda very much, we don't want to cause any trouble, all we ask is for your help and understanding," said Mrs. Bondarenko.