OVERALL COMMENT:  As always, I am impressed by the quality of the clues
in general.  This of course makes the judging difficult. In the end a 
decision has to be made (that's why the moderators get the 
big money).  To that end the winner is Brian Spollen for his highly caloric
entry for BENEFIT.  Roy Thearle had the top clue for MARGINAL. Brian
has agreed to host CWC112. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Potentially alarming but not taken to heart (8)

             Potentially -> anagram indicator
             Alarming -> anagram fodder
             Not taken to heart = defn

*The first of many alarming clues but the surface isn't as fluid or
*interesting as some other entrants below.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gal joins Marina club, the one adjacent to the edge of Frisco Bay. ( 8 )

Gal + Marina = marginal.   adjacent =  marginal.  edge = marginal.

*Well, golly, where to begin.  Gal and marina don't make an anagram
*of MARGINAL; there's no anagram indicator; there's a whole tubful 
*of extra words; there are two straight definitions, which would be OK, if
*one of them weren't the wrong part of speech; there's a period.  I would
*humbly suggest that you read the faq or some other introductory material...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Alarming; frantic; on-the-edge (8)

     "alarming" anagrammed = "marginal"
     "frantic" = anagram indicator
     "on-the-edge" = def.

*Doesn't quite work perfectly because the sequence of words doesn't quite
*match up.
*That is, the subject of the first word and the that of last two words 
*aren't the same, which is a flaw.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Border sheep returns to drink by a lake

Explanation :	border (adj)		def. of marginal
		sheep returns		ram - mar
		drink			gin
		by			link
		a lake			a l(ake)
	
*Whoops, don't forget the enumeration.  Are there such things as border 
*sheep?  Are they what border collies chase?  I didn't know, so I punched
*"border sheep" into Alta Vista, and it turns out there is a breed called
*Border Leicester Sheep.  I guess that's close enough.  A nice, smooth
*clue and honorable mention for first-timer Mike Wilkinson.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarming disturbance at the border (8)

   Alarming       = fodder
   disturbance    = anagram indicator
   at the border  = MARGINAL

*Nice and compact, ripped from today's headlines. Almost identical to
*one other clue below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Like editor's note about misspelling "alarming"? (8)

Like..note:	Editor's notes are written in margins
misspelling:	anagram indicator
alarming:	fodder

*In a sense, 'misspelling' is about the best (though maybe obvious)
*anagram indicator there could be.  But its meaning is so precise that 
*it hardly ever gets used.  The straight definition here is different and
*compelling.  Runnerup for MARGINAL to Deb Bouchard.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Retreating artillerymen besieged by malign butcher are on edge (8)

Retreating = reverse indicator
artillerymen = Royal Artillery = RA (reversed = ar) [I know, another 
Britishism]
beseiged by = container indicator
malign = anag fodder
butcher = anag indicator
are = link word
on edge = def

*The Britishism is all right, since it shows up often enough. And I like "on
*edge" but not as much as "edgy" below.  There are two
*tiny flaws: one is the use of 'are' which is correct in the surface but
*jars just a little when read for the cryptic construction. That's tiny.The
*other is "malign butcher" which is meant to read as an anagram of 'malign'
*but doesn't quite make it with "butcher" as a noun.  "Butcher malign" would
*be OK, by contrast, but wouldn't make it as a surface reading. Both tiny
*things, on which reasonable people might disagree.  
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Narrow boat harbour berths a thousand and fifty (8)  

    Narrow = defn (a marginal victory = a narrow victory).
    boat harbour = MARINA
    berths = container indicator
    thousand = grand = G
    fifty = L
                     MAR(G)INA+L
             
*It must then be a very LONG harbo(u)r. 'Boat' seems extraneous, and to put
*both thousand and fifty in one clue is pretty hackneyed.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarming upheaval making you edgy? (8)

"Alarming" = anagram fodder
"upheaval" = anagram indicator
"edgy" = punny definition

*Great definition, with an appropriate question mark.  A bit easy, and 
*rather similar in construction to other clues,
*but the definition is so nice that it's the word winner from
*Roy Thearle.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Barely enough to impair Brigitte B's rival! (8)
-----def----- ---MAR--- ------GINA L-------

Gina Lollobrigida, contemporary of Brigitte Bardot,
film actresses at a time when bareness was not yet
commonplace.  Exclamation mark necessary to warn
solver that something outrageous is done.

*Outrageous is right. I don't understand the surface at all.  It
*suggested, contrary to the explanation, that some fight had
*taken place and Miss Bardot had got a narrow victory. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
Boating area encompasses Great Lake and delta (8)

   boating area       MARINA
   encompasses        container signal
   Great              G  (G.B., Great Britain, for example)
   Lake               L
   and                connective
   delta              informal math term meaning incremental,
                       marginal (just to make 'cotangent' seem
                       tame by comparison)
    MAR(G)INA + L

*This and another clue use marginal in this sense, which is appealing to me,
*because it's a very common usage in economics, and is the source of its 
*selection for this contest.  The usage is a bit obscure perhaps but the 
*clue has no other faults, and provides an Honorable Mention to Jake 
*Bergmann.  
---------------------------------------------------------
To spoil drink and take Alice's top is borderline (8)

Type: Charade

To spoil = MAR
drink = GIN
and take = positional indicator
Alice's top = AL
is = definition indicator
borderline = definition (MARGINAL)

Surface: Poor behaviour indeed, spoiling perfectly good drinks

*I was expecting more use of MAR/GIN/AL, but this is one of the few.
*I think it's a flaw to let 'top' refer to the first two letters of
*the preceding word. 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Ruin trap with aluminium on the rim (8)

The British spelling is not important in the context <g>

Ruin = MAR
trap = GIN
alumin(i)um = AL (chem.)
MAR+GIN+AL -> MARGINAL
on the rim : definition

*I had to look up that definition of GIN but of course the cotton gin
*is a nice example.  I didn't much care for 'ruin' as a definition of MAR.
*MAR's synonym are more like spoil (like the last clue) or impair, rather
*than 'ruin' which has more of completeness or finality to it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Strangely alarming, like Fermat's Last Theorem (8)

   like Fermat's Last Theorem = MARGINAL
      (For those who may not be familiar with the story: Fermat wrote his 
      famous theorem, that the equation x^n + y^n = z^n has no solutions
      in positive integers with n > 2, in the margin of his copy of 
      Diophantus, with an added note that "I have a truly marvelous proof 
      of this, which this margin is unfortunately too small to contain." 
      The theorem remained unproved for the next three centuries, until
      just a few years ago.)

    Strangely = anagram indicator
    alarming (anagrammed) = MARGINAL

*I don't see why Fermat's last theorem is the least bit alarming,
*much less strangely so:
*  Scully: We've had a report of alarming theorems being proved at 
           Princeton. 
*  Muldar: Not... <gasp> Fermat's LAST Theorem??
*  Scully: Yeah, that's the one.  Someone math prof named Wiles or Wales'
           hasn't been seen for weeks.  There are rumors, conjectures...
*  Muldar: Wait. No more conjectures. The truth of any theorem is out there.
*  Scully: Haven't read up on your Godel, have you?
*  Muldar: Now there's an alarming theorem.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarming upheaval is almost off the scale (8)

Alarming          =         anagram
upheaval          =         anag. indicator
is                    =         def. indicator
almost off
the scale         =          definition

*Similar to a couple of other clues.  The definition is not quite right
*"Off the scale" has more of a positive connotation, doesn't it? Whereas 
*MARGINAL is more negative.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarming unrest at the border (8)
	Alarming - anagram of MARGINAL
	unrest - anagram indicator
	at the border - definition of MARGINAL

*See comments on this clue's twin above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarming broadcast seemed on the fringe (8)

  "Alarming" = anagram fodder
  "broadcast" = anagram indicator
  "on the fringe" = definition of MARGINAL
  Surface comment:  Orson Welles redux

*Not bad.  Broadcast is usually a homophone indicator.  Is it therefore
*fair to use it as an anagram indicator?  I suppose so, there are other
*words that serve dual purposes (oddly, without,...).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Differential slipping.  Alarming! (8)

Differential: MARGINAL (in the sense that marginal costs of an
              activity are the differential or incremental costs
              for that activity, over a baseline cost.)
slipping: anagram indicator
alarming: anagram fodder
The use of the exclamation point is for the surface interpretation
of the clue, not to indicate an &lit.
Surface reading: The engine may need expensive repairs.

*Very economical in both senses.  See comment on Jake's clue above.  
*I am uncomfortable with slipping as an anagram indicator.  The connotation
*is of something happening/falling/disengaging in a smooth manner.  One
*could have used a indicator like cracking, breaking, etc., even though 
*slipping is what differentials are wont to do, I guess.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
and on to word 2, BENEFIT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It's an advantage having been otherwise healthy (7)

             <It's> an advantage = defn
             <having> = link
             been = (anagram> BENE
             otherwise -> anagram indicator
             healthy = synonym = FIT

*One of a few clues with the same broad construction pattern, though
*more wordy than most.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Good, he had the advantage of an insurance policy, when he was involved in
the accident. ( 7 )

good = beneficial. advantage = benefit.  insurance policy = benefit.

*See the last comment to your clue for MARGINAL
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Red meat spread with nacho topping --- it's good (7)

     "red meat" = "beef"
     "spread with" = insertion indicator
     "nacho topping" = "n"
     "it" = "it" 
     "good" = def.

*... though watch your calories.  Terrific, tasty clue, I especially like 
*the use of 'spread with' to create an insertion and 'nacho topping'. Almost
*needs an exclamation point in the surface!  
*Word and overall winner to Brian Spollen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Meat is injected with gas - it leads to profit

Explanation:	Meat			Beef
		injected with		contains
		gas			N = nitrogen
		it			completes word
		leads to			link to definition	
		profit (verb)		= to benefit

*Gas=N for nitrogen is too indirect.  Just say nitrogen.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Suit takes point to advantage (7)

   Suit       = BEFIT (v.t.)
   takes      = container indicator
   point      = NE (compass point)
   to         = connector
   advantage  = BE(NE)FIT (n.)

   Surface:  A key point turns the tide of a lawsuit.

*Ugh, a lawyer clue.  It's OK but the surface is rather drab.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Throw a tantrum after singer King's charity concert (7)

Tantrum:		fit
[after]
singer King:		Ben E.
charity concert:	definition

*Very similar to a clue below, about which see comments on BENE.  This
*one has another flaw which is the extra "Throw a".  A moderate sized 
*problem, that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Be right about short measure of sake (7)

Be right = be fit (in the sense of 'proper')
about = container indicator
short measure = en
of = link word
sake = def
surface: a justified complaint in a Japanese bar?

*I got ripped in a PCWC a while ago for using printer's measures, so
*I am inclined to be sympathetic to this clue.  The use of sake as a 
*definition of BENEFIT seems less tight than some others, though the
*double meaning is VERY nice.  Runnerup to David McKeegan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Welfare suit got near victory I hear (7) 

    Welfare = defn
    suit = BEFIT
    got = container indicator
    victory I hear = homophone of WON = ONE 
    near ONE = NE
                     BE[NE]FIT


*There are three flaws on the way to NE.  1) Victory is a noun, 
*won is a verb  2) The mechanism is an indirect homophone/deletion and
*as such inappropriate 3) "Near" doesn't indicate beheading, to me.  If 
*anything, it's a curtailing (ON) or even "TWO" I suppose.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Suit holding two bridge players appreciate (7)

"Suit" = BEFIT
"two bridge players" = N,E
"appreciate" = definition (in the sense of to
improve the value of something)

*The straight definition is a touch off, but I very much like the cryptic
*construction. Honorable Mention to Roy Thearle.  
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fine adjustment in speculation gives advantage (7)
--NEFI (anag)-- in ----BET---- gives  BENEFIT

*Decent clue. Similar to a number of others.   
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Been turning healthy profit (7)

   "been" turning     BENE
   healthy            FIT
   profit             definition

* No complaints, just not that interesting. Is it missing a subject?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Fine bet will create profit (7)

Type: Anagram

Fine bet = anagram fodder
will create = anagram indicator
profit = definition (BENEFIT)

Surface: and a poor bet will generate a loss I suppose

*More of the same
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gain from fine bet (7)

Gain : definition BENEFIT
from : anagram indicator
fine bet = fodder : FINEBET -> BENEFIT

*Still more, but the anagram indicators keep getting weaker.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Help naked gent to put on suit (7)

    Help = BENEFIT

    naked gENt = EN
    suit = BEFIT
    EN "to put on" BEFIT = B(EN)EFIT

*This clue made me grin a lot, though I had trouble figuring out
*if it was a bathing or three-piece suit! Similar construction to Roy's
*clue above.   Honorable Mention to Kevin Wald. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
King of 60s R&B gets suitable fund-raiser (7)

King of 60s R&B        =        Ben E.
gets                          =        connector
suitable                     =        fit
fund-raiser                 =        definition

*I am uncomfortable with BEN E. as a clue part.  Not a lot, mind you, but
*enough that, to me, it's a flaw.  Did his friends call him Ben E.?  
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Green grass planted around center of minefield to improve performance (7)

  "Green grass" = BENT  (the kind of grass used on golf greens)
  "planted around" = container indicator ("planted" as in "placed")
  "center of minefield" = EFI; BEN[EFI]T
  "to improve performance" = definition of BENEFIT, as in the sentence:
   "This technology will benefit computers with older video cards..."
  Surface comment:  Those tricky enemy bastards!

*It's called bent grass, not bent, so points off there, in a way that would
*not have happened if it were, say, dichondra were used, because it's not
*called dichondra grass.  And the straight definition is OK but not the 
*best it could be.  And whose performance is being improved by this? 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Leninists heartily complain about it! (7)

   BE(N)EF + IT

Leninists heartily: N (middle letter of Leninists)
complain about: BEEF surrounds
it: IT
&lit: BENEFIT, in the sense of privilege or profit, is counter 
to the principles of Leninism.

*A brave try at an &lit,  but it's much too far off the definition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pay off ridiculous fine arising from wager (7)
	Pay off - definition of BENEFIT
	ridiculous - anagram indicator
	fine - anagram fodder for NEFI
	arising from - container indicator
	wager - BET

*Like the run of similar clues above.  A touch better than
*the others because I just like 'ridiculous' as an anagram indicator.