Do an experiment. This experiment will prove you wrong.

Take a piece of bungee cord and stretch it. Does it not get thinner?

Take a bra strap and stretch it. Does it not get thinner?

Take a four-inch wide length of Dacron sail cloth and stretch it.
Does it not become less than four inches wide?

The answer to all of the above is Yes!

Therefore when the shelf foot is stretched, it also becomes less wide.
When it becomes less wide it pulls down on the foot of the sail. Duh!

CN
"Thom Stewart" wrote in message ...
Wrong Neal,

The shelve puts no downward pressure on the foot of the Main. That is
not its function. It is meant to let the sail to be shaped by the tack
& clew.

Ole Thom