I am planning on going to Portugal for a year in 2011. When should I start the application? Will sending in the pre-application be too early, since you can still apply for a 2010 trip?
Nah, send it in whenever. All it allows you to do is start getting maybe more info and bringing it closer to being a reality. A preapp won't set it in stone, so you don't have to still go if you change your mind between now and then, or whatever may happen. So, sending it in is fine.