EV 976 Wind by Kcit

[Speravi]

Greetings N & Cers.

I have a completed grid together with the hint to the thematic words from the surplus letters, but not those words themselves. Despite not having the thematic words, I have the central square entry, since there’s another feature that enables the solver to make that entry. It looks like I have to do some serious grid-staring, perhaps with the help of some Chianti Rufina.

I spent some time on 27 across because it has “uro”, when it should be “Euro”, and 44 across has “Examplars”, which is in the BRB, marked as archaic, but I don’t see the point of using it instead of “Exemplars”, so maybe it’s just a typo. More worryingly, I have two across entries that seem not to comply with the pre-ramble, but since I don’t understand its first parenthetic aside, no doubt that’s just me. Talking of the pre-ramble, initially I took “the affected letters” to refer to the consecutive letters, but I had to make a different interpretation to obtain the symmetry.

[Speravi]

It worked! A minute after psoting that I couldn't find the thematic words, they jumped out at me. Thanks to Kcit for an enjoyable workout.

[dr b]

Hi Speravi, I think I'm exactly where you were with your original post. I agree there's a few thematic entries that don't exactly square with the somewhat confusing preamble, but the 360 degree symmetry of the shaded area sort of forces things to be as they are. I also have the hint given by the extra letters though as usual I can't confirm WHY some of these are extra.

I am no good at word searches so will postpone finding the two words till later (after the final of the Women's World Cup which promises to be an interesting game of USA v Japan).

I'm assuming what goes in the center is a letter, but if I am right about the theme could it also be a little picture? Time will tell.

[kayakamina]

Like dr b I have been distracted by a sporting event; a wonderful British Open Golf championship and a very worthy winner in Darren Clarke.

It is also congratulations to Mark ( MLN; Rugby), a long standing Answerbank member, for winning EV 973.

[turnerjmw]

It is one of the most ungainly preambles I've read for a long time, but I think all the thematic entries are as described in it, in the conventional interpretation, and all the subsidiary indications make sense, though I agree with Speravi about 27ac and 44ac.

Dr b, there is indeed a letter in the centre, and the enclosed area should throw some light on it.

Kayakamina, I thought the final round rather uneventful, but mercifully so as I wanted Clarke or Bjorn to win. A terrific result for a lovely guy.

[ulysses100]

May I also add my congratulations to Mark aka MLN:Rugby, although I must admit that I haven't seen his moniker in a while.

[MLN:RUGBY]

Thanks Kayakamina & Ulysses100.
My pen(s) & notebook set arrived yesterday ;-)

I am still a visitor to the site, but not so often & also use another name!

Found this EV hard going, but eventually got there after much use of an eraser pen!

[AndrewG-S]

I thought that this was rather a good EV. Refreshing to have something a little different. Many thanks Kcit