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.