A bit of a tip: try to search for something simple like the item name first. If you're going to search announcements for patch notes, make sure to use the expanded search function (link on the information bar to the right side) and limit it to the forum and poster (jorb always posts the patch notes, though loftar sometimes adds in useful information later).
The forum search algorithm is pretty archaic compared to what we use today (Google, Bing, and Yahoo). It functions more like some of the earliest search engines and you need a minimum of a four character word to search on. You need to know how to properly use wildcard characters, too. I'd really just recommend some of the advanced features of your favorite search engine.