<P> When coming into port, especially during the Tall Ships' Races many modern square riggers will' man the yards' . All the crew not required on deck to handle the ship will go aloft and spread out along the yards . This manoeuvre was originally used to display the whole crew to the harbour authorities and the other ships present, to show that the ship's guns were not manned and hence her intentions were peaceful . </P> <P> As well as the square - rig yard, the traditional lateen rig is a triangular sail rigged fore and aft from a long yard mounted at an angle (downward sloping forward) from the mast . As well, some smaller fore and aft rigs use a yard . The spar at the head of a lug sail--a roughly square sail which is set fore - and - aft but requires different handling from a more modern gaff or Bermuda rig--is known as a yard, and probably developed from the original square - rig yard . The spar at the head of a gunter - rigged sail serves the function of a running topmast, but is not given that name . Some would call it a' gaff', while others would use the name' yard' . </P> <P> This phrase is widely used, both afloat and ashore, to indicate that the time of day has been reached at which it is acceptable, variously, to have lunch or (more commonly) to have an alcoholic beverage . In modern parlance, the latter usage typically refers to early evening, but the phrase is thought originally to have referred to late morning and to the sun's ascent past a particular yard . </P> <P> The actual time that the sun would pass a particular yard would depend greatly on the ship's latitude and heading, as well as the height of her masts, but the phrase seems to have originated in the north Atlantic, where, in summer, this would have typically been at about 11 a.m. . This was the time at which, by custom and rule, the first rum "tot" of the day was issued to men (the senior rates had their tots neat, while the junior rates had theirs diluted with water), hence its connection with taking one's first alcoholic drink of the day . </P>

What is meant by the sun is over the yardarm