"The slant that the English media put on it is that Ben is somehow a victim. The fact is that it couldn't be more the opposite," said Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton.

Ainslie has chosen to forfeit and it is a move that seems to have surprised some sectors of the British media, who are now sceptical about whether Ainslie is happy at Team New Zealand.

"I have a good relationship with Ben, we talk pretty straight with each other", Dalton said. "Ben is following the path that he wants to follow. He has been given an immense opportunity here to be paid by us to become a top-line match racer".

"We are putting a huge investment in Ben in terms of him being on the circuit doing something like eight regattas this year with an Emirates Team New Zealand crew to enhance his ability as a match racer," Dalton said.

Even if is regarded as one of the best natural talents in the sailing world, that is something Ainslie has always been aware of explained Dalton.

"He wants to be a driver and Dean [Barker] is the number one driver. If Ben continues down the helming line he won't be on the race boat in 2007 unless something happens to Dean or Dean's form falls right away."

"It would be ridiculous for us to go into the next Cup with no one that could take over if something happened to Dean. Ben is completely happy with all of this."