Catholic Herald

[porilo]

Hi! Can anyone help with this one please?
Father's vessel's first-class, about to go north to fish (8)
All I have is I???????

[cashier]

Are you certain of the I?

[porilo]

Yes, I'm certain of the I because it comes from the across clue:
Pot fiasco is risibly awful by that very fact (4,5) and I have IPSO FACTO . That was an easy anagram. :-)

[cashier]

Thinking cap back on then.

[Davemano]

Another Across clue could help/

[Sam1960]

Indiaman ?? can parse bits ???

[porilo]

I think you could be right there. I'm guessing the "first-class" bit is the AI, going north = turn upside down. Not sure where the fish comes into it though.

[Sam1960]

can see (in A1 da N)

[cashier]

Can you give another clue, one which will give another letter in the pattern?

[Davemano]

Asked 2020

[porilo]

I think I've just got 14a. Utter an endless bitter tirade (6)
I've put ARRANT
That would fit with INDIAMAN as the 7th letter would be the 1st letter of ARRANT

[Davemano]

sorry 2040

[Davemano]

Well, an Indiaman is a Trading Ship.

[porilo]

That would make 9a "Italian like 17 can turn into something similar (7)" D?M???E (17 = PILATE)

[ProfessorMaisie]

ISSACHAR

[ProfessorMaisie]

ISSACHAR is the founding father of a Hebrew tribe -
SS inside IA (AI going north) 'to fish' = CHAR

[ProfessorMaisie]

9a SAMNITE

[cashier]

Samnite

[ProfessorMaisie]

I don't know what the connection to Pilate is (unless it's just being in conflict with the Romans) but the wordplay fits -
'similar' = SAME with 'can' = 'tin' (turned)= NIT inside.

[Mamyalynne]

The name Pontius Pilate provides two valuable clues to his background and ancestry. The family name, Pontius was that of a prominent clan among the Samnites, hill cousins of the Latin Romans.

[porilo]

Wow! Brilliant. Thanks very much everyone. I don't think I'd ever have thought of those.