Two unclued lights give the name of a location and another a means of arrival and -departure. Other unclued lights give the names of the party arriving, including one who joins them at the location, and none who leave them there. The three instances of a certain letter appearing in the grid must be written in red, just as in the original.
 
Across
14         Quantity of money in pit in ground, finally hidden (3)
16         Sheets of cloud — it’s holding sailor back (6)
17         Set out after most of crew assembles (5)
18         Cover for the faithful sailor after greeting judge (5)
20         Value in novel, lacking spirit (7)
24         Fortune is satisfying, it’s said, and dislocates (7)
25         Folk walk around burying cache finally (5)
26         Fit section into charts sent back (5)
33         One used to bite things, including one’s gold (7)
37         Be still in the main 27 (5, two words)
38         Shanty involving chest, ultimately, robbed long ago (5)
40         Hear a shot (3)
41         Native American cabanas that almost collapsed (10)
42         Disorderly master deposed in mutiny died (6)
 
Down
1           Ten rich months at sea in the Hebrides, later tomorrow (13, three words)
2           Where they say the only way is being cross (5)
3           Drink most of bar following missile (6)
4           Clothe one dead stiff (5)
6           All the buccaneers initially opening fire took no further action (7, two words)
7           A boat hired with a co-ordination problem (6)
8           Crazy 23 subtracting 5 twice (4)
10         Swear blind Jack must replace ship’s captain at first (6)
12         Not trendy, travelling with Silver in fast time — he’ll help sell novel (13, two words)
13         New Europe set in Honduras after this (8)
15         Chapters covering revolutionary enmity — they go fast (7)
19         It’s deadly getting us captured by rotten pirates (9)
21         Vessels accommodating suffering servants (8)
23         People up North, some heading up to catch runner (7)
27         Impose on lunatic around thematic location (7)
29         Ref has blown up again (6)
30         English company leaves tropical fruit for lover of greens? (6)
32         Extremely virile salt upset virgin (6)
34         Mates supply power for ship (5)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 11 December. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2387, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
 
Please note the early closing date for entries. This is because of the Christmas production schedule.