CCCWC March competition voters’ comments

Back to competition result | Other competitions

A clue to SEAWATER.
50 comments were received for this competition (from 9 competitors, 2 others)
Move your mouse pointer over any bold clue number to see the clue.

Here is the text

Comments on the competition
1.
Wet areas, sweaters and plastic waste variants were fairly obvious choices but well constructed clues on this theme were worthy of points and I felt 26, 36 and 40 respectively were the best of these.
2.
I think this was the best set of clues I've ever seen here – there are several that would be clear winners, for me, in most of the recent contests. It's probably helped by having a very nice word to clue this time, but I was impressed by the variety of ideas and clever approaches taken.
3.
Best selection I have seen on here for some time – a function of a helpful set of letters.

Comments on the clues

1. A plastic waste area, mostly?

1.	Lovely idea, but for me the definition is too much of a stretch.
2.	Imho, plastic waste 'area' defines the sea, not the content of sea which is seawater
3.	Nice topical surface

2. A sweater soaked in brine?

1.	Neat anagram, but the definition gives it away too easily

3. Are trunks at last wet after initially jumping into this?

1.	Shame about the 'initially' / 'at last' juxtaposition.

4. Atlantic's content when Tyler joins Queen after a great deal

1.	I'm not sure what the surface reading is supposed to mean

5. Beginning of revolution saw English tea thrown into this?

1.	Very good, might have been top choice with 'in' rather than 'into'
2.	Excellent clue
3.	Excellent clue!
4.	Good touch of history
5.	The most original idea among those submitted – only marked down because of its resorting to odd letters. The author has been a bit modest: a

7. Briny stuff: sounds like CHOO! (8)

1.	I like the idea behind this clue. I wish more crossword clues were rebus.
2.	I don't think the wordplay gives the solver a fair chance

8. Britain's quitting, rebate was sadly a drop in the ocean

1.	'Britain quitting' would be better.

9. Crackers article regarding sweat – it's salty.

1.	Best clue of the lot.

11. Formaldehyde is found in ocean! (8)

1.	I can't imagine anyone ever solving this.
2.	Expects too much of the solver
3.	Not only clever, but also unique.
4.	Very creative . Requires knowledge of chemistry though

12. Found in wet areas, offshore.

1.	Not sure how 'found in' could mean an anagram.

13. From time to time I see narwhal. They're in their natural surroundings (8)

1.	Well disguised, if a little lengthy
2.	Creative and well thought out

14. Host independent remote server for main content

1.	REMOTE doesn't mean DELETED FROM
2.	Original idea. Not convinced by 'independent remote'

15. Ingredients in solution irritating wet areas one gets with incontinence.

1.	Even giving licence to 'incontinence', most inland wet areas are fresh water, surely?

16. It boundlessly bears waste plastic

1.	'Bears waste plastic' doesn't read as a natural surface. Would ideally be 'Bears plastic waste'

17. It comes in waves as we eat rotten, raw starter

1.	Nice definition

20. Main component of unusually wet areas

1.	Of is redundant

21. Main contents are waste liquid

1.	'Are waste liquid' doesn't read as a natural surface. Would ideally be 'Are liquid waste'

24. Our ocean environs are swimming with waste

1.	Best of the polluted seas clues
2.	Nice surface (so to speak).

26. Sadly, wastes are still primarily dumped into it!

1.	Nice idea. I think 'in it' would make better wordplay

27. Sear a wet cod in this?

1.	Searing anything in water would be a challenge!
2.	No anagram indicator ?

28. Sound of third conflict leads to terror; enemy rejecting a pacific solution (8)

1.	Somewhat indirect … C =third and then a homophone.

30. Stormy area west of the briny deep?

1.	Seawater would have to be an adjective for this to work.

32. The contents of disposable waste are what's filling our oceans.

1.	'The contents of' is extraneous.

37. What constitutes most of Earth, as we perceived when flying?

1.	I really like this, even if the 'perceived' is cryptically superfluous.
2.	Feel 'This' would have worked better than 'What', but a great clue nonetheless
3.	I feel 'perceived' is extraneous.
4.	Good, not too obvious, definition.

38. What could make rocky areas wet?

1.	Neat anagram & lit.

40. What leaves wet areas on rigging?

1.	Neat anagrind.

41. What oceans are filled with is debris, ultimately we are at fault (8)

1.	AT FAULT or FAULTY would be acceptable anagram indicators; but FAULT isn't.
2.	Nice surface

42. What will keep sailors buoyant? A sweater's bust!

1.	Good definition; weaker surface.
2.	Good surface reading