This crossword No. 16609 clues and answers were published on Mon 31 Jul 2023 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Quick Crossword No. 16609 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Bath time floater? : RUBBERDUCK
7-across – Loud and mournful : PLANGENT
8-across – Affliction : BANE
9-across – Noel : YULE
10-across – Debris on the water : FLOTSAM
12-across – Flowing movement made by sporting crowds : MEXICANWAVE
14-across – Letters taken out of order to discover a hidden meaning : ANAGRAM
16-across – Thailand once : SIAM
19-across – Malaysian dagger : KRIS
20-across – Blowing in bursts : BLUSTERY
21-across – Brief strong spike in demand for electricity : POWERSURGE
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – Improve : RALLY
2-down – 1970 union of three European countries that abolished all internal border controls : BENELUX
3-down – The first garden? : EDEN
4-down – Statement above a news item giving its time and place of origin : DATELINE
5-down – Italian explorers, John and Sebastian, who led English and Spanish expeditions to explore the New World : CABOT
6-down – Enter by force : INVADE
11-down – Make unintelligible : SCRAMBLE
12-down – Chanted phrase : MANTRA
13-down – Pilot : AVIATOR
15-down – Relish : GUSTO
17-down – Butter substitute : MARGE
18-down – Kerfuffle : FUSS
This crossword has in total 23 where 11 are across and 12 are down.