Across clues:
1ac STRAPS (flogs)
Straps; ‘trap’ [gin] inside ‘ss’ [ship] (a container clue, pointer being ‘in’)
4ac OCTAVE (series of eight notes)
Anagram of ‘covet a’ (anagram pointer being ‘sadly’)
8ac GALLOPS (moves very fast)
Gal = girl, lops = cuts it off (a charade clue)
9ac PO-FACED (humourless-looking)
Pof = initials of ‘people of faith’, aced = served successfully (a charade clue with initials)
11ac WESTERLIES (winds)
Wester = last letter removed from ‘western’ [movie genre], lies = doesn’t tell the truth (a charade clue with a deletion)
12ac IOTA (a small amount)
Io = ten, ta = thanks (a charade clue)
13ac BOSUN (seaman)
Anagram of ‘bonus’ (anagram pointer being ‘organised’)
14ac LAS VEGAS (American city)
Anagram of ‘salvages’ (anagram pointer being ‘dubiously’)
16ac NEEDLING (provoking)
Need = miss, ling = fish (a charade clue)
18ac OFTEN (frequently)
Found within the words ‘waterproof tents’ (a hidden word clue, pointer being ‘found in’)
20ac SKUA (bird)
S = last letter of ‘serious’, kua = first letters of ‘keep up appearances’ (a charade clue with a last letter & initial letters)
21ac PENNY BLACK (a stamp)
Penny = money, black = Cilla Black (Cilla is after money) (a charade clue)
23ac LOGGING (forestry work)
First letter removed from ‘flogging’ [stealing] (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘don’t start’)
24ac MINIMUM (the smallest amount)
Mini = iconic car, mum = mother (mother is after an iconic car) (a charade clue)
25ac NUTTER (crazy person)
N = first letter of ‘nervously’, utter = speak (a charade clue)
26ac WEIGHT (heaviness)
Anagram of ‘the wig’ (anagram pointer being ‘is adjusted’)
Down clues:
1d STAGE (carriage)
Anagram of ‘gates’ (anagram pointer being ‘repaired’)
2d RELATES (identifies with)
First letter removed from ‘prelates’ [churchmen] (a deletion clue, pointer being ‘losing the opener’)
3d PAPARANGI (in Wellington)
Papa = father, rang = phoned, i = one (a charade clue)
5d CROSS
Cross = get over & burden (a double definition clue)
6d AVARICE (an extreme desire for wealth)
Ava = Ava Gardner, Rice = Sir Tim Rice (a charade clue)
7d EYESTRAIN (complaint)
Eyes = watches, train = public transport (a charade clue)
10d PILLAGING (plundering)
Pill = the bore, aging = getting older (a charade clue)
13d BREAK DOWN
Break down = period of play in rugby & a mental health crisis (a double definition clue)
15d STORYLINE (a plot)
S = first letter of ‘socially’, tory = conservative, line = rank (a charade clue)
17d DRAUGHT
Draught = a measure of medicine & cold air (a double definition clue)
19d TELLING
Telling = narration & convincing (a double definition clue)
21d PENCE (small change)
Pen = writer, ce – first & last letters of ‘competitive’ (extremely competitive after the writer) (a charade clue)
22d COUNT
Count on = to trust & count out = to exclude (a same word, different adverb clue)