The Santa Maria at Anchor by Andries van Eertvelt, painted c. 1628Wednesday, 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 -- a few links: 23D. Poe’s “ANNABEL Lee”), for the original handwritten copy, go HERE; which is quite a contrast with ASTAIRE (36A. “Top Hat” dancer); IVANOV (2D. Chekhov play or its antihero); KIKIDEE (25D. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” duettist, 1976); ODEON (60A. Ancient theater); ADAH (wife of Esau); RUR (12D. 1921 play that introduced the word "robot"); TAKING (34A. Pirating).
Oh, and it’s Earth Day!
Wikipedia HERE.
Google HERE.
Earth Day site, HERE.
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For today’s cartoon, go to The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
For the complete post, go HERE.
