MacArthur, who became the youngest person to single-handedly circumnavigate the globe when she finished second in the Vendee Globe ocean race, will compete in the Route de Rhum trans-Atlantic race.

The single-handed event starts in St Malo and finishes in Guadeloupe.

After the race MacArthur will then race multi-hulls, skippering a crew that will attempt to take the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by sail.

"When I get off Kingfisher and start working more towards the multi-hulls it will be very difficult.

"I almost can't imagine how it's going to feel. But you have to move on, you have to progress.

"Boats don't have an infinite lifetime and like people we have to move on.

"We will just have to see how it goes but the day will be very, very tough at the end.

"She's a very special boat. Since she's been the very first line on a piece of paper I've been there with her, seeing her being built, racing her and sailing around the world.

Last GB voyage

"It is a pretty strong bond that we've got and it's sure as hell going to be hard to break."

Prior to the November race, MacArthur will lead a five-strong crew in the Regatta de Rubicon.

The 2,500-mile race starts on 11 May and leaves from St Nazaire in Brittany bound for the Italian port of Santa Margarita.

She will also sail in the Round the Island race, around the Isle of Wight, on 22 June which will be her last race in Great Britain on the monohull.