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Every now and then, issue raft to deal with sea foam (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

surf

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'sea foam' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'every now and then issue raft' is the wordplay.
'every now and then' means one should take alternating letters (letters selected at regular intervals).
'issue'+'raft'='issueraft'
The alternating letters of 'issueraft' are 'SURF'.

'to deal with' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for surf that I've seen before include "Ride waves - browse net" , "Browse through the Internet" , "Shore foam" , "Sea-foam" , "Waves for riding" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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