STUDENT Matthew Settle is hoping his new hobby will turn out to be plain sailing.
Matthew entered a competition at Southampton Boat Show and won a £750 windsurfing board.
There was only one problem - Matthew had never used one before.
Calshot Activities Centre came to the rescue by giving him a lesson on a sheltered stretch of water between Calshot Spit and Fawley Power Station.
Senior instructor Tania Prendergast spent two-and-a-half-hours teaching him the basics.
An activities centre spokesman said: "People always find it quite difficult for the first hour or so because they normally drift as a result of the wind or current, but Matthew did very well."
Matthew, 19, is studying marine geography at Southampton Institute.
He said: "I entered a few competitions at the Boat Show and a few weeks later discovered that I had won a windsurfing board."
The equipment was donated by Solent Sailboards, which is based at Calshot.
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