Topic: AC Black Flag - how to destroy flags

I've looked thoroughly online and still can't find out how to destroy flags once you've boarded a ship. I have no problem with destroying the kegs or other tasks but this one baffles me. I also don't have a problem with the scouts at the top. My problem is what the hell do I have to do to destroy the flag? If I climb, I fall to my death (after doing everything else correctly with no problems whatsoever). Is there a weak spot to shoot at instead? The red icon seems to be pointing right at the top but how do you get there?

I've wasted a good deal of time with this game just trying to figure things out in the almost complete absence of any tutorial. I'm enjoying this old game which was on offer at the time but, as with others of the series I tried, the controls are a real pain and took me ages to work out, especially the weird free-running where Kenway insists on randomly sticking to trees and buildings.

@Ibsen3 it’s been a while…but I’m pretty sure you cut the flags down before raising your own. Climb up to them and a prompt should appear.

Thank you. I'm still a little unsure how though. I climb as far as I can before falling to my death. Does anyone know when and where the prompt appears? Is anyone aware of a video that shows it happening so I can see exactly where I need to get to?

@Ibsen3 this guy gets to the flag at around the 3 minute mark:

Got it sorted a while back but thanks to everyone for their help. For reference, the video above illustrates it perfectly.