Crossword Genius

Sideways drift of upset small boat circling eastern Spain

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leeway

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'sideways drift' is the definition.
'leeway' can be an answer for 'drift' (thesaurus). I am not certain of the 'sideways' bit.

'upset small boat circling eastern spain' is the wordplay.
'upset' is a reversal indicator.
'small boat' becomes 'yawl' (yawl is a kind of small boat).
'circling' indicates putting letters inside (circling can mean going around or containing).
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'spain' becomes 'e' (abbreviation for Espana).
'e'+'e'='ee'
'yawl' enclosing 'ee' is 'yaweel'.
'yaweel' back-to-front is 'LEEWAY'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leeway that I've seen before include "Margin, latitude, room" , "Slack" , "Room to manoeuvre, as for a ship" , "Elbowroom" , "Flexibility" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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