By Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport |
Ainslie, the two-time Olympic champion, joined the Kiwis in the absence of a British entry for the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia, Spain.
The 27-year-old is learning the ropes as part of the afterguard, the group of sailors at the back of the boat who decide on tactics and strategy.
And he is focusing on a long-term goal of becoming a starting helmsman in sailing's premier match-racing event.
"Dean [Barker] is the number one helmsman and skipper of the boat and for that to change its going to take a seismic shift," Ainslie told BBC Sport.
 |  It's a learning process but at the end of the day I've still got to add to the team |
"So I've not really set my sights on trying to do that. My role is to push Dean and make sure he's kept on his toes.
"If it's better for the team when it comes to racing that I'm in a strategist role then that's fine.
"But hopefully, I'll walk away from it with the ability to be a really good America's Cup helmsman and knowing that next time I could be number one."
The match-racing, or head-to-head format, of the America's Cup is different to the Olympic fleet racing that Ainslie excels in.
The powerful 80ft America's Cup boats are a stark contrast to the small, single-handed Laser or Finn dinghies of Ainslie's three Olympic campaigns.
And he admitted that it was difficult at first, with two Olympic golds, a silver and an OBE stashed away, to be swallowed into a team of more than 30 sailors, spending much of his time on the tune-up boat.
"That's frustrating, of course it is. You do lose control of your own direction. But nothing comes for free," he said.
"I'm learning a whole new load of disciplines - match-racing, helming the bigger boats and sailing with 17 people.
 Ainslie is looking ahead to Beijing in 2008 |
"You've got to work at it. It's going to be a little bit hard for a while but if I keep my head down and keep working, hopefully I'll get where I want to go.
"It's a learning process but at the end of the day I've still got to add to the team."
Team New Zealand won the trophy from America in 1995 and defended it five years later, but in 2003 lost 5-0 to Swiss team Alinghi, who had poached several leading Kiwis including then-skipper Russell Coutts.
Ainslie had an aborted America's Cup spell with American syndicate OneWorld before quitting to pursue his Olympic Finn campaign in the run-up to Athens.
"It's been a bit easier fitting in with a load of Kiwis than it was with the Americans," he admitted.
"They're a great bunch and they've been really welcoming.
"But the long-term dream is to be involved with a British challenge for the America's Cup that is going to be successful.
"That would be a dream for all British sailors and hopefully it will be a reality one day."
The Lymington sailor is now based in Auckland but will return with the team for the European racing circuit in the summer.
But he hasn't quite forgotten his Olympic roots.
"Even if I didn't sail the Finn again until 2007 I think it's possible to get up to speed in time for the 2008 Games," he said.
"It's not ideal but it's do-able and that's my plan at the moment.
"The Olympics is a great event and I've had great experiences there and I'd love to compete in Beijing."
MMIX
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