Cryptic crossword

Across

1 Airborne attacker able

to wreck a ship (5) 6 Nobs very noisy when there's a drunken sot around (5)

9 Manly control, but not

of a mistress? (7) 10 Sounds like someone's

revving up! (5) 11 Writer, fabulously oldfashioned (5)

12 Where no gentleman is said to make port (5)

13 A beastly little bar? (7) 15 It's wrong to be on the

bottom (3)

17 Is apt to be rusty (but

not at golf) (4)

18 Due to restriction, only one letter can get there (6)

19 Could it measure me a

half of bitter? (5) 20 Left with uncle (6) 22 Fishy-looking member

of the choir? (4) 24 Article in definite

usage (3) 25 Sailor organising a

team a good deal (7) 26 Being royal, he could make valuable contacts (5)

27 Drink provided by the

doctor at half-time (5) 28 Peripheral route,

possibly (5)

29 Seamen, not normally

rascals (7) 30 Companion indisposed

with a bit of a cold (5) 31 Surpasses one in the

best possible way (5)

Down

2 A stout carrier (6) 3 She's maybe gone with him who's lost his head (6)

4 One man's name for a

missile (3)

5 A quadruped, but in some statistics a duck (5)

6 One of a pair on the

practice pitch? (7) 7 The cry of a bellringer? (4) 8 The game of love, perhaps, before you seal the knot (6) 12 Admitted many a

terrible deed (5) 13 Slight reduction, not

serious (5)

14 Bill's in here to speak

his piece! (5)

15 Group of swimmers in

shallow water (5) 16 Shot over the street

for an appointment (5) 18 Where Americans get cross if put in the wrong seat (5) 19 Declaim wildly for a

remedial purpose (7) 21 A question of

cynicism (2,4)

22 To live with a goddess could have a bewildering effect (6) 23 The only National Trust

water? (6)

25 Has it a striking

similarity? (5)

26 She has a way of

operating for £50 (4) 28 A ball of sorbo

rubber (3)