A crowd of onlookers gathered at Departure Bay Beach in Nanaimo Monday morning for a rare sighting of a hovercraft in local waters. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

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May 8, 2023 | 11:16 AM

NANAIMO — A hovercraft getting ready for an epic journey around North America is attracting curious onlookers across the mid-Island.

The Penac, a former Coast Guard vessel set to be operated by a crew of four out of New Brunswick, has been making waves on social media as it was spotted cruising along the waters of eastern Vancouver Island and making stops at local beaches.

Co-owner Gino Leblanc spoke with NanaimoNewsNOW on Monday, May 8 morning as they were parked at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay Beach. He said they would spend a few days in the Harbour City before getting picked up by a China-based cargo ship at the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf.

“The cargo ship will transport the craft through the Panama Canal, up to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Then we’re going to sail it to the Atlantic coast up to New Brunswick.”

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Hovercrafts need to be on shore overnight, and they are allowed to park at public beaches, according to Leblanc. The proximity of Departure Bay Beach to the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf makes it an ideal spot to wait for their ship to come in.

The former Coast Guard craft used for search and rescue operations was purchased by Leblanc and his crew from the federal government last October, and they have been preparing it all winter in Richmond for their unique adventure.

They flew from New Brunswick to the Coast Guard base in Richmond in January for final preparations before hitting the sea.

Leblanc and his crew, all former Coast Guard, now operate a diving and underwater construction businesses on the East Coast.

Gino Leblanc proudly stands outside his hovercraft Penac at Departure Bay Beach on Monday, May. 8, 2023.(Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

“We build wharfs for public work and DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) too. We do all the underwater inspection, underwater welding for marine structures owned by Government of Canada. Our life is on the water and underwater as divers.”

Leblanc said they’re not sure how long their 3,500-kilometre journey from Florida to N.B. will take.

Their craft, built in the early 80’s, can travel roughly 500 nautical miles, or 10 hours, on a single tank of diesel, while staying relatively close to the shoreline.

“Technically with a hovercraft, it’s 50 nautical miles from the shore but a hovercraft, it’s hovering so you kind of follow the coastline so you’re close to shore and you can beach anytime.”

A look inside the hovercraft Penac, with plenty of room for fisherman, rescue crews, or tourists. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Once they make it back to the East Coast, Leblanc said they hope to use it for business purposes as well as pleasure.

“We can move cargo, we can do maybe ice breaking, there’s lots of different things we can do with a big sized hovercraft.”

The hovercraft is expected to be put on the cargo ship and leave Vancouver Island on Wednesday, May 10.

A crowd of interested onlookers were eager to ask questions and learn more when a hovercraft made a rare appearance in Nanaimo over the weekend. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow