Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same
Cryptic clues
ACROSS
1 Vessel shows skill (5)
5 Surplus pears were used (5)
9 Heard beer was trouble (3)
10 Lies about small bits of land (5)
11 Leave Adriatic resort (5)
12 Thinking about writing material (3)
13 Support for a beverage, say (3)
14 Help from maiden (3)
16 Ready for
collection (3)
18 Look like a goose (6)
21 Eternally in one version (4)
23 Three feet from the garden (4)
26 Catholic student, always smart (6)
29 Lose argument about the Baltic, say (3)
31 Fired with rage (3)
32 Creature in Bratislava (3)
34 Criticise deity (3)
36 Choose from selection (5) 37 Guide bullock (5)
38 Lady from Esher (3)
39 Audibly remove fur until see-through (5)
40 Satisfied dates are wrong (5)
DOWN
1 Actors have French article to keep (6)
2 Mature pier design (4)
3 Suggest having beer with member (6)
4 Giant bird article (5) 5 School lied about playground item (5) 6 Writer of compendia (3)
7 When king has small demands (4)
8 Give out the wrong time (4)
15 Loafer relied on working without energy (5)
17 Hearsay about body part (3)
19 Marched around bend (3)
20 Very excited about whisky (3)
22 Compete with luvvies (3)
24 Stop and apprehend (6)
25 Early doter on man was spotty (6)
27 Course right for boat (5)
28 Rewritten verse
changes direction (5)
29 Toss out drinkers (4)
30 Collapsed round part
of church (4)
33 Bachelor’s pain (4)
35 Devoured more than
seven, say (3)
Quick clues ACROSS
1 Artistry (5)
5 Extra (5)
9 Afflict (3)
10 Islands (5)
11 Divided (5)
12 Squid’s fluid (3)
13 Golf peg (3)
14 Assistance (3)
16 Solidify (3)
18 Observe (6)
21 Constantly (4)
23 Unit of length (4)
26 Brainy (6)
29 Body of water (3)
31 Anger (3)
32 Rodent (3)
34 Cooking pot (3) 36 Vote (5)
37 Navigate (5)
38 Pronoun (3)
39 Precipitous (5) 40 Overfilled (5)
DOWN
1 Fort (6)
2 Ready to eat (4)
3 Claim (6)
4 Mythical figure (5)
5 Skid (5)
6 Enclosure (3)
7 Enquires (4)
8 Radiate (4)
15 Daydreamer (5)
17 Listening organ (3)
19 Curve (3)
20 Grain (3)
22 Contend (3)
24 Take into custody (6)
25 Scattered, — about (6)
27 Passenger ship (5)
28 Swerves (5)
29 Drunkards (4)
30 Domed recess (4)
33 Yearn (4)
35 Consumed (3)