cryptic crossword

ACROSS

1 Courage and audacity needed

for such an obstruction (10)

6 Not very many spotted in safe

waters (1,3)

9 Netting wrapped round

knight's weapon (5)

10 Blustering type mangled reggae in small western resort, initially (9)

12 Not entirely sorry, with great fire raging, to find cool things (13)

14 Fall down in mountain pass

and expire (8)

15 Woman partnered with serviceman, getting old quite slowly (6)

17 Rush ahead of me to find

flower arrangement (6)

19 Potty scientist maybe

mistreated rats and mice (8) 21 This opera may be something to see in a German cave! (3,10)

24 Blast husband going to

choose dental accessory (9) 25 Small creature producing grand repeated sound, as we may hear it (5)

26 Information that a doctor is

holding back (4)

27 Composer in far off New

Zealand heard programme (5,5)

DOWN

1 I must have short party up in

tropical resort (4)

2 Shoot number, with military

exercise almost completed (7) 3 I fill chamber half up: stirring everything, to produce this wine (13)

4 Most horrible November so far is equal on temperature (8)

5 With no energy input, make

packing case (5)

7 Roll up on opening of Goodwood to get the measure of horse races (7)

8 Poet whose writings have

value? (10)

11 Protective figure's financier

for a rival daily? (8,5)

13 Official foolishly directed to

support a Conservative (10) 16 Animal's relative used to make a soldier's headgear? (8)

18 Smoke coming from

revolutionary base (7)

20 Six-footers in religious

groups? (7)

22 Ride around top of road: it's

not so wet (5)

23 Left harbour (4)