Problem this year Paddy, is that most people have booked their ferries already to get the best prices.
In my case it was booked at the beginning of October.
These early cheap fares have to be paid upfront and are not refundable if you cancel.
I would suggest that if the MR bus is available in 2011, that you ask if anyone's from the UK is interested a little earlier, subject to unforeseen circumstances, and fitting in with my time off, I probably would be interested.