The notorious Cape of Storms off Cape Town lived up to its reputation this weekend, bringing an abrupt end to the chances of Britain's Sam Davies and three other skippers in the Vendee Globe.

By Saturday evening, three damaged yachts in the round-the-world race had tottered into the safety of Cape Town harbor.

Davies said her boat, Initiatives-Coeur, hit a floating unidentified object that brought the vessel to a sudden and horrific stop and damaged the keel.

"Three nights ago, it was a really violent collision that stopped the boat. And straight away I discovered all or part of the keel structure inside the boat was cracked," she told AFP.

Davies said she was making food when the violent impact threw her across her cabin.

"I hurt my ribs and everything inside the boat just went flying, when everything stopped dead."

This is Davies' third participation in the gruelling event. She placed fourth in the 2008-09 edition and had to pull out early in the 2012-13 edition due to dismasting.

Davies is one of only six women competing in the Vendee Globe.

"I was in the top 10. I was really happy with my race and how it was going. It's a real shame that it has to finish like this," the 46-year-old said.

Three other boats were also damaged in the raging waters.

Although Davies cannot formally continue the race after receiving outside help for repairs, she is determined to finish in order to support a charity which enables children with severe heart defects to be operated on in France.

"It's a physical race but it's not the physical force that makes a difference, it's the mental force," said Davies.

The skipper will be cheering on her husband Romain Attanasio who is still in the competition.