MacArthur's boat was dismasted on 24 February

A 75ft trimaran designed by Nigel Irens will be built in Sydney and MacArthur will take on the 24-hour run and the West-East transatlantic records next year.

MacArthur told BBC Radio Five Live she was relishing the challenge of taking to the seas by herself once again.

"I can't deny the fact that ever since I have been a kid, I have always loved the solo side of offshore racing," she said.

"I'm amazingly excited about this. The boat's just fantastic."

Frenchman Laurent Bourgnon set the current records in 1994.

MacArthur may also attempt to set a new best for the old tea route of Hong Kong to London, and possibly even the single-handed round-the-world mark.

Ellen's record attempt over

The announcement comes less than a month after the 26-year-old Briton's Jules Verne round-the-world record bid ended in disaster when Kingfisher 2 was dismasted in the southern Indian Ocean.

But MacArthur said that experienced had not demoralised her in the slightest.

"I love what I do - that's the important thing. I can always see some new challenge on the horizon," she said.

"For the moment, that's the case, I can't imagine that changing. I guess you never know."

Construction of the boat begins in four weeks time, and it should be ready for launch in Australia at the start of December.

MacArthur made her name when she finished second in the 2001 Vendee Globe single-handed round-the-world race, becoming the youngest person and fastest woman to race around the world non-stop.