04.22.09 -- All at Sea

The Santa Maria at Anchor by Andries van Eertvelt, painted c. 1628

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009, Earth Day

Puzzle by Daniel A. Finan, edited by Will Shortz

There are nine circled letters in today’s crossword; connecting them gives a rough outline of a ship listing the component parts with their associated letter names. We are given a Note stating: "When this puzzle is done, the nine circles will contain the letters A through I. Connect them with a line, in alphabetical order, and you will form an illustration of the puzzle's theme." The connect-the-dot picture is a sailboat defined by six entries with their clues referring to sections of the sailboat "illustration". This is entirely an afterthought and is of no use in the solution of the crossword, which is just fine, as it can be a pleasant diversion if one has the time to indulge in dwelling upon the crossword puzzle's construction -- however, the solution of same can be had with or without troubling with post-analysis. A previous sailboat puzzle HERE.

Nautical references: BLACK PEARL (18A. Ship in “Pirates of the Caribbean”); SANTA MARIA (55A. Ship to the New World); and the aforementioned six entries referring to the illustration -- MAIN / SAIL (17A. With 59-Across, A-B-C-A in the illustration); KEEL (25A. F-G); MAST (30A. C-D); BOOM (43A. A-B) and HULL (49A. E-F-G-H-E).

Additionally, ALEE (64A. Away from the wind); ATL (13D. One of the oceans: Abbr.); CAPT (9D. Hook or Cook: Abbr.); EVENT (29A. Ship’s christening, e.g.); LOGS (28D. Old Shipbuilding needs); PROBLEM (33D. Leak on a ship, e.g.); TAKING (34A. Pirating).

The remaining mid-size entries are an eclectic lot -- 23D. Poe’s “ANNABEL Lee”), for the original handwritten copy, go HERE; which is quite a contrast with ASTAIRE (36A. “Top Hat” dancer); AWARDS (35D. Tournament wrap-up); DEMOTE (1D. Bump down, but keep on); DESCENT (21A. Half of a mountaineering expedition); DETAIL (21D. Part of a larger picture); DIABLO (40A. Counterpart of un ángel); EXACTAS (7D. Horse-race bets on win and place); IDEATE (51A. Brainstorm); ITRIED (47D. Words of resignation); IVANOV (2D. Chekhov play or its antihero); KIKIDEE (25D. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” duettist, 1976); KNITTER (19D. One who may put you in stitches); 46D. “Mississippi MASALA” (1992 film); NOSTRIL (41D. It may be flared); OOLALA (44D. “Yowie, zowie!”); PELTERS (52A. People in fierce snowball fights); REWIRES (39A. Does some electrical work on); RICERS (8D. Kitchen gadgets); TOGAED (22A. Dressed like a certain keg party attendee); TRIAGE (3D. “M*A*S*H” procedure); TESLAS (48D. Magnetic induction units).

Five-letter -- ADOUT (16A. Break point); sharing a B with BOA is COBRA (9A and 11D. Deadly snake); EMBED (5D. Incorporate, as a YouTube video into a Web site); IRATE (51D. Livid); NAPAS (32A. Certain California wines); NORAD (41A. Santa-tracking org.); ODEON (60A. Ancient theater); REMIT (45A. Send, as payment); YEGGS (63A. Stethoscope users, at times).

Short stuff -- ADAH, ADE, ATIE, DITS, EINE and ENNE, EMIR, EVER and EVRY, FADS, IMNO, LINT, LOS, MAE, MAXI, NEG, ODE, ONA, PLEA, RUR, SITU, SOY, SPF, SRS, SYN, TAIL, TOG, TRI, VALS.

Oh, and it’s Earth Day!

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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.

Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.

For Google's Earth Day selections, click on image above.

Remaining clues - Across: 1. A Morse “I” consists of two; 5. Penultimate fairy tale word; 14. “Climb ___ Mountain”; 15. Long skirt; 20. Stop ___ dime; 24. Prefix with lateral; 31. “___ expert but…”; 42. End in ___; 50. Part of U.C.L.A.; 54. Yearbook sect.; 61. Makeup of some little balls; 62. Response to a charge; 65. Lava lamps and pet rocks, once. Down: 4. Lexicographical abbr.; 6. Actor Kilmer and others; 10. Tribute with feet; 12. 1921 play that introduced the word “robot”; 26. Mideast V.I.P.; 27. Cousin of -trix; 30. Writer Rita ___ Brown; 36. Wife of Esau; 37. In ___ (as found); 38. Following detective; 39. CD- ___; 52. D- reviews; 53. Aachen article; 55. ___ sauce; 56. Suffix with many fruit names; 57. Minus: Abbr.; 58. Dress (up); 59. Number on a bottle at the beach.