They were indeed! The Ming Treasure Fleet sailed around the Indian Ocean, collecting tribute and showing off Chinese military prowess, while the Santa Maria made it across the Atlantic (miraculously, and against all reason).
I think the question being asked was more whether or not the Ming treasure fleet undertook blue water voyages, and as near as I can tell, the portion of the Indian ocean that they sailed across doesn’t really meet the criteria of “open ocean” (but my interpretation could be very wrong).
Whereas Columbus crossed the North Atlantic, which is very much open ocean.
Ship design varies based on the types of voyages made. The reason a lot of WWII-era USN and RN ships have a sharp upturned bow is to better weather the rough seas of the North Atlantic. If voyages are going to be more commonly close to shore, then the ships can be larger and flatter-bottomed, because the swells and waves won’t be as brutal as in the open ocean.
They were indeed! The Ming Treasure Fleet sailed around the Indian Ocean, collecting tribute and showing off Chinese military prowess, while the Santa Maria made it across the Atlantic (miraculously, and against all reason).
I think the question being asked was more whether or not the Ming treasure fleet undertook blue water voyages, and as near as I can tell, the portion of the Indian ocean that they sailed across doesn’t really meet the criteria of “open ocean” (but my interpretation could be very wrong).
Whereas Columbus crossed the North Atlantic, which is very much open ocean.
Ship design varies based on the types of voyages made. The reason a lot of WWII-era USN and RN ships have a sharp upturned bow is to better weather the rough seas of the North Atlantic. If voyages are going to be more commonly close to shore, then the ships can be larger and flatter-bottomed, because the swells and waves won’t be as brutal as in the open ocean.