The XOD was originally designed in 1909 by Alfred Westmacott and most are still sailing today. Originally with a wooden gaff rig and asymmetric spinnaker this was altered in 1928 to the current spruce bermudan rig with the symmetric spinnaker being adopted in 1969.
The class is very popular on the south coast with fleets in Parkstone, Yarmouth, Lymington, Hamble & Itchenor. They are regularly the largest one-design fleet at Cowes Week.