Old Rochester Regional High School will have a new sport come spring. On Wednesday, the ORR School Committee unanimously approved a sailing team.

Athletic Director Bill Tilden presented the proposal.

“We think we’re really missing out on a group of kids for a sport that they’d so enjoy but isn’t offered at the high school level,” said Tilden.

Some students have opted to go to other schools like Bishop Stang High School and Tabor Academy that do offer sailing, he said. Dartmouth High School also has a sailing program.

The nonprofit organization Mattapoisett Community Sailing (MattSail) will partner with the school to provide full funding for the first three years and slowly reduce it for years four through six. The organization’s boats will be available to students for as long as the team and MattSail exist.

“They’re in this for the long run. They understand that I couldn’t afford to go and buy these boats after six years,” Tilden said. “They’re just looking for the bodies to put in the boats.”

Tilden doesn’t anticipate student interest being a problem. Last spring he polled students, and 31 showed interest. Only two of those students currently play spring sports.

“We would be targeting 29 without stealing from spring sports,” Tilden said.

The team will be a regular not a club sport and fall under the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association guidelines.

“I think it will grow even more than that. That’s just kids who are willing to get their feet wet,” Tilden said.

He also said they would try to arrange the program so that no one is cut from the team.

Coaches will likely be people from the community.

Chair Jim O’Brien said it was good for the school to take advantage of its proximity to Buzzards Bay.

“I think it’s certainly a great thing for the tri-town students,” he said.