The Route du Rhum solo transatlantic race got off to a dramatic start when two boats collided off the Brittany coast late on Sunday.

A third boat pulled out of the race after nearly ploughing into the two stranded vessels.

But Britain's Ellen MacArthur was safely out of trouble and lies fourth in the monohull category.

The trouble in the multihull started event when Franck Cammas's boat Groupama overturned off the Morlaix coast.

In the darkness, Jean Le Cam's Bonduelle then slammed into the upturned boat, slicing a metre-long gash into his own craft.

Worse was to follow when Banque Covefi, skippered by Bertrand De Broc, came close to ploughing into the two stranded boats.

De Broc, like Le Cam, had not picked up Cammas's distress signal and opted to pull out of the race altogether, announcing his retirement from solo yacht racing.

"You have to be at 200% in solo racing to get a result," said De Broc. "If you're the slightest bit jittery, you've got no chance.

"More than that, though, your life is at stake. I'd rather admit that to myself now, before it's too late."

Le Cam was forced to dock at Camaret at 0300 GMT on Monday for repairs while Groupama was towed back to port at Roscoff.

The race is currently being led by Frenchman Roland Jourdain, who MacArthur beat into third place in the Vendee Globe.