The yacht, with Australian Nick Moloney at the helm for the second leg after MacArthur skippered the first, secured third place overall.

That maintained Kingfisher's record of a podium finish in every race she has competed in since her launch in 2000.

Moloney replaced the British yachtswoman at the helm for the second leg, and brought the boat home behind SILL, BOBST and TEMENOS.

MacArthur had earlier skippered Kingfisher to second place in the first leg of the 2,800-mile race from St Nazaire in Brittany to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

The second leg finished in St Marguerhita near Genoa in Italy, concluding the first event of the season in MacArthur's defence of her world championship title.

"We're of course a bit disappointed to have not stayed with the leaders on this leg, but happy to have still secured third overall," said Moloney.

"We've also put the boat through a wide range of conditions, and have made some great progress for Ellen in terms of preparation for the Route de Rhum.

"She is a very different boat performance wise to last year, and the Rhum is going to be a great battle with Bilou (SILL)."

SILL, with Roland Jourdain at the helm, once again dominated in the second leg, beating BOBST by two hours and 40 minutes.

Technical issues

Kingfisher will return to British waters in time for the Round the Island race off the Isle of Wight on 22 June.

MacArthur, who travelled to Calais to join Alain Gautier for the 60ft trimaran race, the Course des Phares, after the first leg, hopes to be at the helm.

"Kingfisher is lighter and faster than before, and although we've had a fair few technical issues, we've learnt a lot," MacArthur said after the first leg.

MacArthur, who rose to prominence when she finished second in last year's Vendee Globe single-handed round-the-world race, is building towards the solo trans-Atlantic Route de Rhum in November.

Final points of the Rubicon Regatta:

1: SILL (Jourdain) - 20 points
2: BOBST GROUP / ARMOLUX (Stamm) - 15
3: KINGFISHER (MacArthur / Moloney) - 14
4: TEMENOS (Wavre) - 11
5: TISCALI (Bianchetti) - 11