Only some of the lenders who countenanced innumerable new sailings? (5)

I believe the answer is:

helen

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'only some of the lenders who countenanced innumerable new sailings?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'only some of the lenders who' is the wordplay.
'only some of' says the answer is hidden in the clue (I've seen 'only some' mean this).
'HELEN' is hidden in the letters of 'the lenders who'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for helen that I've seen before include "-- Mirren, English actress" , "Legendary beauty of Troy" , "Beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris" , "Girl" , "Woman who launched a thousand ships?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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