'To point the yards' definitions:

Definition of 'To point the yards'

From: GCIDE

Point \Point\ (point), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pointing.] [Cf. F. pointer. See Point, n.]
1. To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart, or a pencil. Used also figuratively; as, to point a moral. [1913 Webster]
2. To direct toward an abject; to aim; as, to point a gun at a wolf, or a cannon at a fort. [1913 Webster]
3. Hence, to direct the attention or notice of. [1913 Webster]
Whosoever should be guided through his battles by Minerva, and pointed to every scene of them. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
4. To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate; as, to point a composition. [1913 Webster]
5. To mark (a text, as in Arabic or Hebrew) with {vowel points}; -- also called vocalize.
Syn: vocalize. [1913 Webster + RP]
6. To give particular prominence to; to designate in a special manner; to indicate, as if by pointing; as, the error was pointed out. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
He points it, however, by no deviation from his straightforward manner of speech. --Dickens. [1913 Webster]
7. To indicate or discover by a fixed look, as game. [1913 Webster]
8. (Masonry) To fill up and finish the joints of (a wall), by introducing additional cement or mortar, and bringing it to a smooth surface. [1913 Webster]
9. (Stone Cutting) To cut, as a surface, with a pointed tool. [1913 Webster]
To point a rope (Naut.), to taper and neatly finish off the end by interweaving the nettles.
To point a sail (Naut.), to affix points through the eyelet holes of the reefs.
To point off, to divide into periods or groups, or to separate, by pointing, as figures.
To point the yards (of a vessel) (Naut.), to brace them so that the wind shall strike the sails obliquely. --Totten. [1913 Webster]