As I understand it, the issue with the searching is not that you cannot point the radar where you want it to search, because you can, but the thoroughness of the search.
To carry out a thorough search, the best way to minimise the sea clutter is to look downwind, which minimises sea returns. Generally, rough seas are accompanied by strong winds, so looking downwind will require the aircraft to be flying downwind, meaning a much higher groundspeed, and a reduced time searching a specific area.
60 kt airspeed with with a 30 kt wind would mean a groundspeed of 90 kts searching, as opposed to 30 kts if flying into wind/looking downwind as they do now. That's seems quite a difference to me?